TODAY'S WORD from the Pastor

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair." -2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)

Don't let trouble steal your hope. God is with you! Cast down any wrong thoughts, worries or concerns, and use your energy for praise and happiness and making people smile and even laugh.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I am going to enjoy this day and sing and be funny and smile because life is too short to be anything but full of joy, and you didn't put me on this earth to walk around doom and gloom. I will live like I believe you exist and I will live like I believe in "victory in Jesus" and I will celebrate being alive and being saved by your amazing grace, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

May 21:

Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."

Read that closer. It says that we have been "blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing" in Christ!

Every spiritual blessing is already yours...hope, peace, divine health, love, grace, mercy, courage, boldness....YOU have been "blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing" in Christ!

Believe it! Embrace it! Smile about it, because it's true!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I believe that you have provided everything I need through the cross. I have your abundant life. I have your divine health, and I have your unmerited favor. I thank You for your victory to reign over every area of my life, and I receive every blessing you have for me today, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 18:

Lamentations 3:25-26, "The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him, to those who seek Him. It is good both to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Are you waiting on God to move in response to your prayers? Hang in there! The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I'm running low on patience. Help me to wait on you, to wait on your timing when I want things to happen now. Help me to remember that you always know best, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

One of the great challenges of trusting God's plan for your life is to not murmur or complain along the way. Today, ask God to help put a guard over your mouth!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, quite frankly, help me to keep my big mouth shut sometimes! Stop me before I complain too much, and help me to turn my complaints into prayers, and help me to praise and give thanks much more often then I complain, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 15:

My 12-year old had an unexplained pain in her back and side since last Saturday. She took an anti-inflammatory pill, but that didn't help. We prayed and laid hands on Monday afternoon, and within an hour of the pain was gone.

God is still in the business, and faith is the key that unlocks the door to God's power. James 5: 13-16, "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up...the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, today I will exercise face to believe that I can receive blessings, healing, Miracles, all that I need, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 14:

The Bible says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10.

You are God's workmanship. You are God's masterpiece. But you're also a work in progress. God is working on you and God's working on me, and that takes time.

So give yourself a break if you mess up, say the wrong thing, forget to pray or read the Bible...but then come right back to God's way and let him have his way in you.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, so when you do the wrong things, just repent, get back on the wagon so to speak, and say, "Lord, have your way in me". God's Word guarantees that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of the Lord!

PRAYER: "Dear Father, you are an awesome God, and I am an awesome child of God because I am your workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Today I yield myself to your will, letting you have your way in me, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 11:

When Joseph's brothers sold him as a slave into Egypt, he didn't know why God had allowed it.

Years later, after working as a slave in Egypt, being falsely accused, put into prison, he finally became second in command of the entire nation, and he realized that he was put into that position so that he could sell food to other nations who were suffering from a famine.

Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."

God always has good reasons for why he allows evil and suffering, though we don't always know what those reasons are.

When you needlessly suffer, and wonder why, remember Joseph in Genesis 50:20 and trust that God has a Master plan.

When the enemy means for evil, God turns it around for good, if we are faithful!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, people might means evil against me, but you turn it around and mean it for good in order to bring about good results. Help me to remember that, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 9:

Good morning!

Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Declare today that you won't stress over things that are out of your control. People will be people, jobs will be jobs, the stock market fluctuates, but one thing that is also for sure, God will be God...let him handle it!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, today I will choose not to stress or worry about things that are beyond my control, and I will simply be still and know that you are God, trusting all things into your hands, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

Love and blessings,

Pastor Kevin

May 8:

Good morning! Sorry I've been absent from this website for a few days.

King David went through times of profound sadness, disappointment and seeming depression. How did he get through it? In Psalm 42:6, David said, "My soul is downcast within me, therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan the heights of Hermon--from Mount Mizar."

David is saying here that when he felt downcast and depressed, he would be intentional about remembering God and the goodness of God in his life. Sometimes we have to cheer ourselves up.

Sometimes we have to build ourselves up. If you're going through a bad time in your life, or just have the blues one day, do yourself a favor and be intentional about remembering the goodness of God in your life. Let your mind drift back on all those 'God moments' in your life, those happy times when the Lord showed his goodness to you.

In Psalm 42:8, David said, "By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me---a prayer to the God of my life." That verse tells us that the Lord DIRECTS his love to us all the time. You and I have moments in our lives in which we can see that the Lord was good to us and directed his love towards us.

So remember those precious moments in your life when you feel down and depressed. If you meditate upon those awesome memories of God coming through for you, you will cheer yourself up and experience the joy of the Lord all over again.

PRAYER: "Dear God, when I feel sad I will remember you, I will count my blessings, I will meditate upon your goodness in my life, and my soul will be restored and I will rise up on wings like eagles and have the joy of the Lord all over again, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

Blessings,

Pastor Kevin

May 2:

Romans 8:37, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us!" You've been struggling with something and praying about it. God told me to tell you that he sees your struggle and your pain is coming to an end. You're about to overcome something you've been dealing with for a while. Your mind will be at peace and your heart will be steadfast and secure. The weight is being lifted off your shoulders. Rejoice and breathe; God is making a way for you! Everything will be just fine. PRAYER: "Thank you Lord that my struggle is over, it is finished, and I am more than a conqueror because of you who loved me so much, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

April 30:

Good morning!

Sometimes we think that we are too far gone or our lives are too messed up to be fixed so we just give up. We think that we are too broken for God to fix, but that is far from the truth.

Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us this: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

No one on this planet is ever too far gone or broken to be saved by God's grace and mercy, and to be made new again!!

God says His mercies are new every morning, so every morning that you are blessed with opening your eyes and given life, no matter how broken you are, God has a plan to fix you! But it all begins with you calling upon the Lord for help because you cannot do it by yourself.

Exodus 18:18 says that the task is too heavy for you, that you can't do it alone. So trust in the Lord with all of your heart and He will be faithful in His word to fix the brokenness in your life!

PRAYER: "Dear God I know that you heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. I come to you in humility, trusting in you to fix and mend and heal the broken parts of my life. Thank you Lord for healing today, in Jesus name, amen!"

April 26:

In Psalm 141:8, King David wrote, "But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute."

Did you catch that last phrase? David said to God, "Do not leave my soul destitute."

David seemed concerned that God would leave his soul destitute. In times of crisis, or just loneliness, we can sometimes feel insecure...even about God.

In contrast, in Romans 8:38-39, the Apostle Paul said, "For I am PERSUADED that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The Apostle Paul was persuaded, fully convinced, absolutely confident that nothing could separate him from God's love. Despite all of the hardships that the Apostle Paul went through, he was PERSUADED that nothing could separate him from God's love. THAT'S the heart of a person who is secure in God's love!

Today, be secure in God's love for you! Let yourself feel secure that God's feelings for you do not fluctuate. You could be insecure about a lot of things in life, but God's love for you isn't one of them.

Don't allow the junk that life throws at you sway you or derail you from trusting in God. Great is His faithfulness, and his mercies are new every morning.

Trust in God's care for you and rest secure in His hands.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I am fully persuaded that nothing could separate me from your love. My heart is secure. My mind is awake. My life is built upon your promises, and there's not a man on earth or a demon in hell that can shake my absolute confidence in you, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

April 25:

Psalm 16:11, "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

In God's presence is the fullness of joy. So if your life, or a part of your life, is lacking joy, then maybe you need to spend more time with the Lord or put your faith more into action.

Do you begin your day with prayer? Do you give thanks throughout the day? Do you rejoice in the Lord, smile at people, practice happiness, shine your light? We're not blessed by merely hearing the word, we are blessed by doing what the word of God tells us, that's how we experience the pleasures of God in this life. Christianity is not a spectator sport. Love is a verb. Society has turned us into consumers, but Jesus calls us to be contributors.

So today, put your faith into action! Give encouragement to a struggling friend. Pray for a cranky coworker. Talk to the cashier. Smile at the stranger. Turn your radio to 88.3 and sing in your car.

Bottom line: if you're bored then you're not walking with the Lord. Get out there and love people and get your "joy" on!

PRAYER: "Dear Father, You show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore as I put my faith into action and walk my talk, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

April 20:

Good morning!

People come and go, friends that seemed loyal and heartfelt quietly let you drift out of their lives.

We try to get ahead with our finances and it seems like suddenly some unexpected expense pops up!

This is what the Lord says to you right now.... "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

You just relax and take a deep breath. Inhale peace and exhale worry.

Say, "God's got this! The Creator of the Universe is my best friend, and if God be for me, who can be against me? God's got this! No worries!"

And then SMILE and walk with a spring in your step, because the Apostle Paul said, "rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!" Walk tall and proud, knowing that this too shall pass!

April 19:

Good morning! Galatians 6:9 says, “...let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”. You have God’s promise (He can’t lie) that if you keep sowing your seed, giving what you have to give...you will reap. You will get what your are after. Don’t give up! Think of a person in the Olympics. They train for four years and deny their flesh for four years because the goal of a gold medal is so imbedded in them that their will is strong enough to keep the flesh under control. If they do that for a corruptible crown, how much more should we persevere who are doing it for an incorruptible one (1 Corinthians 9:25).PRAYER: "Dear God, I will persevere. I will keep giving what I have to give. I will keep sowing my seed, knowing that in due season, and the right timing, I will reap awesome blessings in my life, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

April 16:

Good morning!

We are promised in Psalm 34: 18 that "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

It doesn't say you will never BE brokenhearted, because sometimes you will be...and so will I.

But when you are brokenhearted, the Lord is close to you and He will save you. Let Him love you back to life. Let His peace rise up within you.

PRAYER: "Thank you Lord for being to the brokenhearted and saving those who are crushed in spirit. You and me together got this day. There's nothing that I face today that I can't overcome with your help. You love me back to life by your amazing grace, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

April 12:

Good morning!

John 14:27, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Another way of saying that is..."Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated, disturbed and upset."

Whether we read it as, "Let not your heart be troubled" or "Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated," either way, Jesus is saying that it's up to YOU whether or not you're going to have peace. It’s a choice that WE make.

At the beginning of the day, make a decision that no matter what comes your way, you’re not going to get upset; you're going to stay in peace.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, no matter what kind of agitation or nonsense I face today, I will let not my heart be troubled. Nothing is worth losing my peace. I will stay calm and peaceful, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

April 9:

Jesus said, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

"Serpents" and "scorpions" are metaphors for the power of the devil. The devil does not have the authority in your life. People do not have the authority in your life. The stock market does not have authority over your life.

Jesus has given YOU the authority to rise up today with enthusiasm and boldness, to say, "I AM HEALED" and "I AM JOYFUL" and "I AM TOO BLESSED TO BE DEPRESSED!"

Believe it!

Say it TODAY!

DECLARE: "Because of the authority of Jesus Christ and His power within me, "I AM HEALED! I AM CONFIDENT! I AM JOYFUL! I AM STRONG IN THE LORD! I AM TOO BLESSED TO BE DEPRESSED and "I AM TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED, in Jesus' mighty name, AMEN!!"

April 6:

Good morning!

The Bible says to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. If we're strong in the Lord, then we can do all things through Christ , who gives us strength!

If you only knew everything you were capable of. You can handle so much more than you know. Embrace the trials in your life. Don’t hide from them. They break us down but they are meant to build you up. Trials build strength, humility, character, stories. You were meant to endure hardships and you CAN and WILL overcome. Stay close to the Lord and talk to God when you have troubles; I promise you will not regret it.

April 5:

Good morning!The temptation to focus on our worries, unfavorable circumstances, and on our adversaries always exists.But focusing on everything that's going wrong in your life won't change a thing. Instead, let's redirect our minds, because everything that happens in life first begins with a thought. So, today let's practice thinking about everything that's good in our lives and trust that God will take care of what's not. Let Him fight your battles, and don't give up your peace for anything. Remember, a peaceful person is a powerful person. “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” - Philippiansâ€¬ â€­4:8â€¬.

April 2:

The Apostle Paul said, "Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand."- Romans 5:2.

As a Believer, you are living in a place of high privilege. Meaning, God thinks highly of you. Also, because of your faith in Christ, you are guaranteed a place in Heaven. Also, every day you are connected to the power of God through prayer and worship and thinking about God.

So lift up your head, smile, and choose a positive mental attitude today...because Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand!

PRAYER: "Dear Father, this is a great day. Because of the resurrection, Christ has brought me personally into this place of highest privilege! Thank you Lord, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

March 30:

Happy Good Friday! This is the day that we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus. 2,000 years ago, Jesus of Nazareth hung on the cross, and he said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Jesus could have spoken in anger and he could have said, "Father, to hell with them, they know exactly what they're doing". But nothing could stop the Amazing Love of Jesus Christ, not even the scourging with the whip, not even the crown of thorns piercing this brow, not even nails hammered into his flesh...nothing could stop him from loving people! That is the Heart of Jesus. That is a heart of the Christian faith. That's God's heart towards you, right now, today. So today, rejoice that God took away all of your sins when Jesus died on the cross, confess your sins, and believe that you are forgiven, and forgive yourself.PRAYER: "Thank you Jesus for paying the ultimate price to demonstrate the Amazing Love of God, Amen!"

March 28:

Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."Whatever you're facing today...nothing is too hard for God! Whatever worries you and makes you feel stressed...nothing is too hard for God!Whatever your hopes and dreams are...nothing is too hard for God!Don't limit God by small, limited thinking. He will meet you at your level of faith. So raise your faith by thinking about how awesome God is, by talking positive, and by stepping out in faith with boldness and confidence. Take bold action! Nothing is too hard for God!PRAYER: "Dear Father, I'm through with small, limited, mediocre living. I'm tired of talking about how big my problems are, I'm going to start talking about how big my God is, and I'm going to step out in bold faith, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

March 27:

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:1-8.

Today, let the words of Jesus dwell in your heart deeply. If you walk in close relationship and connection with Jesus, then you can ask for any of your needs to be met, and the Lord will change things and move things around behind the scenes for you, to get your needs met and to help you through anything you faced today.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I will remain in you and your words will remain in me. Therefore I know that if I ask for anything, you will meet my needs in ordinary ways or amazing ways, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

March 26:

Whatever you are facing on this Monday, God told me to tell you to "be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the One who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Do not be afraid. Stand and present yourself this day to everyone you meet with COURAGE and CONFIDENCE, knowing that God is the One who goes with you, and HE...WILL...NOT...FAIL...YOU! EVER!!!

PRAYER: "Dear God, I choose to be strong and courageous, because You are the One who goes with me wherever I go, and I know that you and I are an UNBEATABLE TEAM. Therefore I am COURAGEOUS TODAY, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

March 23:

The Bible says that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. So I share a testimony about waiting upon the Lord...The doctors told me my husband was brain dead after having a brain stem stroke.But I continued to pray for him, and speak life to him, in Jesus name.After six weeks of the doctors telling me that he would never recover, he began to move his finger...then his hand....then little by little his entire body!The power of life and death is in the tongue! Proverbs 18:21It was a VERY slow process, he was in a coma, totally paralyzed, on a respirator.His triglyceride level was almost 5000. The doctors gave us no hope that he would ever live.They said he would be a vegetable the rest of his life.But God says in his word, that if we will pray and believe, all things are possible!It wasn't easy, and no one else thought he would ever live, but Gods word is true. I had nothing to lose believing Gods word, and everything to gain.After three months in the hospital he came home in a wheelchair, able to use a four prong walker.After a month of being home, he didn't need the walker or the wheelchair, within another month he didn't even use a cane.Two years later he and I went to Nigeria to share our testimony in a Bible school there.With God all things are possible! - Jeanne.

March 22:

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4.

"Come, let us sing for the joy to the Lord, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our Salvation. Let us come before him with Thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." - Psalm 95:1-2.

Today is thankful Thursday!

Say this with me... I am thankful for this day, thank you Lord!

I am thankful that I can see, thank you Lord!

I am thankful that I can hear, thank you Lord!

I thankful that I can taste, thank you Lord!

I am thankful for my family, thank you Lord!

I am thankful for everything in my life, especially salvation through Jesus Christ, thank you Lord!

What would you add to this list?

Say it to God now, and be thankful to God today, in Jesus mighty name, amen!

March 19:

Good morning!

Yes it can be a good morning! I know it's Monday, I know it's raining, but you can have either a magnificent Monday, or you can have a miserable Monday, it's your choice!

The Bible says, "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17.

That verse says the Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save! That verse says that your heavenly father rejoices over you! That means that God sings over you! God smiles over you! God is happy when he thinks of you! Why? Because you are God's child...nothing can change that!

So rejoice in the Lord on this rainy Monday, knowing that the Lord rejoices over you today and everyday!

DECLARE: "I don't care that it's Monday! I am the happiest, most blessed, most fortunate, most joyful person because I have a great big God who rejoices over me today and everyday and there's not a jerk on Earth or a demon in hell that's going to stop me from having a magnificent Monday, in Jesus mighty name, amen!!!"

March 16:

Proverbs 28:1 says, "The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

So many are scared to step out in faith because of what others will say, or think or simply because they are scared of messing up and even going backwards because of their mistakes.

The Holy Spirit is wanting us to be bold in this time. When we make a mistake he will help refine us. When rejection comes, when fear comes to try and shut us down, He will reveal things to us even in our mistakes. He will help us learn.

Making mistakes and being bold will refine you, grow you into faith, grow others in their faith. PRAYER: "Dear God, help me to be more bold in my faith and in my life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

March 15:

There are several instances in which the people of God were never content with God. For instance, after the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites felt like Moses and God were taking too much time. So they made a golden calf and begin worshiping it.

Later on in the history of Israel, the Israelites wanted a human king. The prophet said, "But we have a king...God!!" They said, "Yeah but other nations have a human king, and we want one too." Throughout history, people are never satisfied with God alone. God is never enough for humankind. We always want more, we always want something visible, something tangible, something physical.

And yet, God never gives up on us. Despite all the times that we forget about God, want more than God, and make a mess of our lives, God is still faithful to us! Exodus 34:6 says, "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."

That's good news for us...that the Lord is compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness!! Be happy and rejoice today that we have a God who is faithful to us, slow to get angry, but full of compassion for us silly human beings.

What is your "golden calf"? Who is your "King Saul"? Meaning, what is the thing or person that you are trusting in more than God today? Your income? Your insurance? Your spouse? Your...what? Today, renew your full trust in the Almighty God who has always been there for you, and remember that the golden calf and King Saul didn't work out too well for ancient Israel.

March 13:

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." - Psalm 37:23-24The Lord makes your steps firm today because you delight in him! Yes, sometimes you will stumble, sin, and make mistakes. But you will not fall, for the Lord will hold you up and sustain you with his righteous right hand!Believe it today and rest in that truth!PRAYER: "Thank you Father that you make firm my steps because I delight in you. I will not fall, for you uphold me, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

March 12:

The story came out in the news at the end of February that during the school shooting in that Florida school, an armed school resource deputy waited outside the school building and did not go in the school to try to stop the killer from shooting 17 people.

How's that make you feel? It makes me feel angry, how about you? A person whose job it was to guard the innocents did nothing when the time came to take action.

Seems kind of cowardly, doesn't it? If that makes you and I feel angry, it makes God feel even more angry. The Bible says in Revelation 21:8 that "the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death".

Notice that the "cowardly" is in that list of people who will face the second death. That sounds pretty serious, but that's how serious God takes our behavior. The Apostle John is saying that God will judge all the cowardly.

So let's make sure that we are NOT cowardly. Let's make sure that we pray for the COURAGE to do what God is calling us to do.

PRAYER: "Dear God, I don't want to be cowardly. I want to be courageous. Thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit that gives me the courage to do what I have to do everyday, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

March 8:

Isaiah 61:2, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord HAS ANOINTED ME to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners!"

As Isaiah 61:2 says, you ARE ANOINTED by God!

"Anointed" means empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke the words of Isaiah 61:2 when He began His ministry because God anointed Him with Holy Spirit power!

"Anointed" means you have "Holy Spirit fuel" in you! You have "Holy Spirit vitamins" running through your veins!

You're not weak. You're not puny. You're not small. The Lord HAS ANOINTED YOU, that's written in the past tense in Isaiah 61:2.

Today, believe that YOU ARE ANOINTED, that YOU ARE EMPOWERED, that YOU ARE FUELED UP with all that you need to get the job done this week!

PRAYER: "Dear God, thank you for anointing me with your Holy Ghost power! I will go out today to help people, love people, encourage people, smile at people, because I am filled up and fueled up with Holy Ghost power, today and every day, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

March 7:

On Tuesday the news broke that the Mayor of Nashville resigned after admitting to an affair with her head of security. She also plead guilty to felony theft of property.

I don't mention that to make light of somebody else's sin; I mention it because it's easy to look down on some public official whose secret sins have become public knowledge.

However the Bible says that a time will come when we all will appear before a Heavenly Court and we will all answer for our sins. God won't just hold cheaters and adulterers accountable;

He won't just hold convicted felons accountable. Hebrews 9:27, "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." That same verse in The Message Bible says, "Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences."

So if there is something (an attitude or an action) that you know you need to get rid of in your life, now is the time to repent, make a change.

PRAYER: "Dear God, today I choose to turn away from my sin and stop doing what I know I shouldn't do...knowing that you forgive me and wash away my sins in the blood of Jesus Christ! I am forgiven and set free to live a new way, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

March 6:

Revelation 12:11 tells us that we overcome evil and tests and trials "by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony!"

Meaning, the blood of Jesus gives us forgiveness of sins and guarantee of eternal life, but then we activate God's power in our lives by choosing to speak the Word over our circumstances.

So every time you speak positive, every time you speak with optimism, and even speak Bible verses of God's promises...you are OVERCOMING the evil one and making your day positive and full of joy! Dodie Osteen did it, and got healed of a terminal illness.

Today, speak words of life and faith and victory. "Thank You I am blessed!" "Thank You that my life is awesome!" "Thank You that I am led by God everyday!" "Thank You that this is a fantastic day!"

PRAYER: "Dear God, today I will overcome every dark mood, every temptation, every worry by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony, speaking words of faith, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

March 5:

Today's devotion is from the "Jesus Calling" book. I thought this was good...

"Refuse to worry! In this world there will always be something enticing you to worry. That is the nature of a fallen, fractured planet: Things are not as they should be. So the temptation to be anxious is constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind.

The best defense is continual communication with me, richly seasoned with thanksgiving. Awareness of My Presence fills your mind with Light and Peace, leaving no room for fear. This awareness lift you up above your circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My perspective.

Live close to me! Together we can keep the wolves of worry at bay.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest!" Jesus - Luke 12 25-26.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." The Apostle Paul - 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18.

"For with you is a fountain of life; in your light we see light." King David - Psalm 36:9.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, today I will not worry. Today I will trust you. Today I place my life into your hands. Today I place my problems into your hands, and I thank you in advance for taking good care of my problems and my life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

March 2:

Jesus said, love one another as I have loved you!It is easy to SAY, "Love you." to a family member, neighbor or friend. Honestly, the word "Love" might be a bit over-used. We don't always need "love, thoughts and prayers" alone. We yearn for authenticity.Interestingly, the word "authentic" comes from the Greek word, "authentese." It means: " to bear the mark of the hands." Wow!Authentic LOVE is not just spoken, it is connected to the hands! It involves signature, a personal touch, action!For instance, if I give you an authentic patchwork quilt, it wasn't made by a machine. It was made by my HANDS.Share "authentic LOVE"! Write a check, carry someone's trash, shake someone's hand, cook supper for a sick friend, open a door, hand out food next Saturday on our church parking lot, pull out a chair, massage a back, give, serve or help!Don't just say it or pray it..... DO IT!

March 1:

Luke 6: 35, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

A man came to me one day saying that he was very angry and felt hate towards his granddaughter's boyfriend, because the boyfriend was bad and toxic for her...but he didn't want to carry around that hate and anger in his heart.

I told him that Jesus said to pray for your enemies. I told him to pray for this toxic boyfriend. It might not change that boyfriend but it would rid this man of the anger and hate in his heart.

Long story short, this same man came to me a month later and told me that the anger and hate in his heart was gone, and he had peace.

Is there someone you are angry with? Do you hate someone? Be honest.

If so, pray for your enemy to find happiness and love in his/her life, and watch what happens in you.

February 28:

Ephesians 5:16 tells us to make the most of every opportunity!

Imagine this: If you had $86,400 in your bank account, and someone stole $10 from you, would you be SO upset that you would throw away the remaining $86,390 in the hopes of getting revenge against the person who stole your $10 dollars?

Of course not.

See, we all have 86,400 seconds in each day of our lives. If someone has been negative towards you for 10 seconds, don't let that ruin the other wonderful 86,390 seconds you have remaining in this day! You'll never get this day back once it's lived and you only have one opportunity to make the most of today's 860,400 seconds you have to live. So don't sweat the small stuff...or the small people.

DECLARE: "I am making the most of this awesome day because I am an awesome, Spirit-filled child of God, in Jesus' name, amen!

February 27:

Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

We usually do not think before we speak. We just react with opinion, and we do not see the damage done by our words. You have a choice today...spread love and positive energy with your words or spread negative, toxic energy. Tear down or build up? What is your choice today?

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, help me to hold my tongue when I want to say something negative. Help me to think before I speak. Help me to scatter seeds of sunshine and kindness with my words today, following in the footsteps of the Master, Jesus, who uses his words to heal. In Jesus' mighty name, amen!

February 26:

God does not give us more than we can handle, but I’m pretty sure life sometimes gives us more than we can handle...and God allows it.

God allows us to feel unequipped, unlikely, undeserving, overwhelmed, under pressure, impossibly ill-matched...that we might “rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9)

Feeling powerless this morning? Rejoice - He is omnipotent! Lacking wisdom? Hallelujah - He is omniscient! ðŸ—Â Walking a lonely road? Fear not - He is omnipresent! ðŸ›¤

Mama who can’t keep up and doubts her qualification to care for that crew of hers: you’re the right one for the job.

Leader who fears she can’t run ahead without collapsing: you can because He’s called you.

Believer who thinks her past mistakes will disqualify her for service: you are broken, chosen, and forgiven to bring Him glory.

God has placed you right where you need to be to know this for real: “cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I know that life sometimes give me more than I can handle, but I rely upon you, knowing that your power is bigger than my biggest problem and your presence runs deeper than my deepest weakness, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

February 23:

Psalm 27:14, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

I know it can be hard and frustrating to wait for the Lord to move in our lives. But God will come through for you. Some things just take time and patience.

Maybe God is waiting on you to make a move. Step out in faith and see what happens. Point to a body part and command it to be healed in Jesus' name, and then try to do something you couldn't do before. If there is no change, then wait upon the Lord and simply give thanks that you are being healed. I know it's hard, but our Heavenly Father assures us in His Word that all things are possible for those who believe!

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I will wait for You to move in my life. Until then, I will do what I can to make my miracle, my blessing, happen. Thank You Lord!! In Jesus' name, amen."

February 21:

Matthew 7: 1-2, from The Message Bible, “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging."

A man by the name of Jeff Olsen shared his Near Death Experience...

"I knew I got to go back, and when I came back I found myself wandering around the hospital. In encountering people in the hospital, I knew them. I mean they were strangers to me in this realm, but while out of the body, I knew everything about them: their motivations, their love, their hate, their motivations, every choice they ever made and why. And I had this overwhelming sense of love for them. Didn't matter if it was the heroin addict or the saintly grandma, I wanted to embrace them and I felt this connection and oneness with them. That was really the big shift as I realized, 'Gosh we really are connected.' And I also realized I'd spent so much of my life in judgment and comparison, "They're good; they're bad." I realized that we really are connected. We really are on that perfect path. Letting go of that judgment and that comparison and embracing people and honoring where they are."

It's simple...let go of judgments and love people where they are, and if they need to change, let the Holy Spirit bring the conviction.

DECLARE: "I choose to follow in the footsteps of the Master and let go of judgment and embrace people and honor where they are, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

February 20:

Sometimes you have to just praise God, move forward, and trust that things will get better even if you're not seeing things improve right now.Habakkuk 3:17-18 says, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will REJOICE in the Lord, I will be JOYFUL in God my Savior."Read that Scripture again very carefully. If you were living in an agricultural society, and you had no pension, no guaranteed salary, no health insurance, and if you depended upon your crops and your livestock to provide you a living...and the crops were failing and there were no livestock in the barn and there were no grapes on the vine, believe me, you would be tempted to panic and worry and be stressed and you might even be tempted to stop believing in God! That's why it's remarkable that the prophet Habakkuk said that despite no grapes in the vines, despite no crops in the fields, despite no livestock in the barns...that he would still rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in God! Read this carefully, you are in charge of your own attitude! You are capable of deciding your mood! You can choose to praise the Lord even when things are not going right in your life, and if you make the choice to rejoice, you will raise your mood and you will create your own happiness and you'll be giving yourself the gift of a positive mental attitude...which simply attracts more of the good stuff into your life! So, no matter how your day or week is going so far, choose to rejoice in the Lord, choose to be joyful in God your savior! It works if you work it!

Did you catch that last line? Jesus said love your neighbor AS yourself, which assumes you that you love YOURSELF! It should go without saying that loving yourself and being good to yourself is very important, because you can't love your neighbor unless you love yourself...because you can't give what you don't have!

Check your self talk...if you spend most of your time beating yourself up, and telling yourself negative things, then you will not only feel awful but you will see negativity drawn into your life. Instead talk to yourself like you're talking to your best friend or someone you think a lot of. Be kind and gentle with yourself...like God is!

DECLARE: "I am a child of God, worthy of respect, with great value! I love God and I love my neighbor as I love myself!"

February 16:

God is AMAZING, and so are you!!

How amazing is God?

James Tour, synthetic organic chemist, one of the world’s leading specialists in nanotechnology, once said...

"I build molecules for a living. I can’t begin to tell you how difficult that job is. I stand in awe of God because of what he has done through his creation. My faith has been increased through my research. Only a rookie who knows nothing about science would say science takes away from faith. If you really study science, it will bring you closer to God."

The God who made the molecules also made YOU, and God's creation (including you) is AMAZING!

Today, be in awe of God's goodness in your life. Be in awe of God's AMAZING grace in your life!!

God is real, and He is amazing, and so are you, and TODAY CAN BE AMAZING if we pump up our faith with the goodness of God!

PRAYER: "God, you are an AMAZING God, and I am an AMAZING child of God, and this is an AMAZING Friday, I declare it, in Jesus' name, amen!!"

Happy Valentine's Day February 14:

"Love keeps no record of wrongs." - 1 Corinthians 13:5.

The Apostle Paul said that love keeps no record of wrongs, do you?

Would those who know you best describe you as someone who keeps a mental list of the things that others have done wrong? Do you keep a hidden list of grudges against those who've hurt you?

On this Valentine's Day, let's ask God to help us DELETE the record of wrongs that others have done. Let's be intentional about letting people off the hook for being human. What do you say?

PRAYER: "Dear Father, help me to LET GO of my mental record of wrongs done to me. I want to be good at forgiving, I want to be good at tolerating people's flawed humanity. Help me to love as Jesus loves, forgive as Jesus forgives, and live as Jesus lives. Thank you Lord. In Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

February 13:

"Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.

The Apostle Paul said that love is not easily angered, are you?

Would those who know you best describe you as easily angered? During this week of Valentine's theme, let's ask God to help us be SLOW to anger, easier to get along with. If you're prone to angry outbursts, you especially need this. Let's be intentional about being softer, kinder, more flexible with the people in our lives. What do you say?PRAYER: "Dear Father, help me to be very slow to get angry, more relaxed, more at peace with myself, and others, so that I can better reflect the image of Jesus and so that I am not a headache to the people around me. Thank you Lord. In Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

February 12:

"Love is patient, love is kind." - 1 Corinthians 13:4.The Apostle Paul said that love is patient and love is kind, are you? Would those who know you best describe you as patient and kind? During this week of Valentine's theme, let's ask God to help us be more patient and more kind...and then let's be intentional about being kinder, more patient with the people in our lives. What do you say?PRAYER: "Dear Father, help me to be more patient and more kind, so that I can better reflect the image of Jesus and so that I am not a headache to the people around me. Thank you Lord. In Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

February 9:

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24.

Are you in the mindset of being in a struggle? Whether it be financially, health, or otherwise. Whatever you are focusing on is what will come to you more.

So instead of focusing on lack, believe that you HAVE RECEIVED what you have asked for in prayer, as Jesus said in Mark 11:24. Create the feeling that you have an abundance of... love, patience, gratitude, etc. This will put you into the position to receive what you prayed for, since Jesus promised us "believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

PRAYER: "Dear Father, in obedience to Jesus' words in Mark 11:24, I believe that I have received what I have asked for in prayer, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

February 8:

"Refuge" is not a word that we use often these days. A person is a refugee because they are fleeing to a place of refuge, i.e, safety, security, shelter.

Psalm 14: 6 says that "evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their REFUGE."

We all feel "poor" sometimes. If money is tight, we feel poor. When we're lonely or in despair, we feel poor in spirit.

When that is you, God is your REFUGE. He will shelter you when you are in need of safety and security.

Don't worry about finances. God is your refuge and protector. He already knows what you need. Run to him as your refuge.

Pray about whatever is troubling you and let it go, trusting that God is making a way for you.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, thank you for being my refuge. Today I chose to run to you in prayer, trusting you to help me make ends meet. You are my shelter and security, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

February 7:

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." - Ephesians 6:10.

In case your mind is playing tricks on you today, remember that you are so much stronger than whatever it is that you're fighting.

When you feel weak, like you can't go on, you will have God's strength. You will make it in the power of his might, and everything will be alright.

DECLARE: "I am strong in the Lord, and the power of his might, therefore I have the victory today, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

February 6:

Hebrews 12: 1, "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." You may have lived your entire life struggling to have enough.

You may have lived a hard life as a child where your parents always said there wasn't enough or maybe you heard your parents complain about not having enough and that they would always struggle...so you learned to struggle. You learned to fear lack. You learned to worry about "not enough."

Today, right now, let's break a poverty spirit OFF OF YOU in Jesus' mighty name!! Let's throw off any residue of "not enough" and "struggle" right now, through the authority that God has given to you! Receive the amazing, unprecedented favor of God over you.

Have a "there is MORE THAN enough" mentality!

I speak grace over you and a child-like heart to work and trust your Heavenly Father and receive His blessings.

The need to always believe that you won't receive anything is gone now.

The need to say "Nothing works for me" or "I will always struggle" is gone from you now.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, from now on I refuse and rebuke a poverty mentality! I receive an abundance mentality! I declare that my life is full! My heart is full of love! My body is full of health! You have given me more than enough to live, to enjoy life, and I can't thank you enough, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

January 29:

The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is your strength! So I have to believe that Jesus was joyful pretty often! Scripture also records, "Jesus WEPT!" But I GUARANTEE he also laughed! JOY is such a powerful, healing force! It is a fruit of the Spirit, according to Galatians chapter 5. The keys that open the door to JOY are different for everybody. It's important for your mental heath! I laugh a lot! I've always seen the funny side of life. I am learning to laugh AT myself and WITH others...that's important! My wife and kids make me laugh so much. Good jokes make me laugh. Funny pictures, children and animals make me laugh. We watch Friends and America's Funniest Home Videos together as a family and I love watching my family laugh. You have to be intentional about bringing joy into your life. Life will not just automatically bring you joy and laughter. Sometimes people will, sometimes circumstances will, but if you wait around for life to make you smile and to make you happy, you might be waiting a long time. So today find the joy! Do what you know brings joy into your life, whether it's jokes, or being around a certain somebody, or watching something funny on TV or listening to music or whatever you do that brings you Joy, because you know what...you DESERVE joy!!

DECLARE: "I am a blood-bought, Spirit-taught Christian! Joy is my birthright as a child of God because it is a fruit of the spirit of God, who lives in me! So today, wherever I go, whomever I talk to, I will find the joy, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

January 26:

Jesus in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

One of the biggest obstacles keeping us from all of the wonderful treasures that God has in store for us is to be constantly upset.

There is so much that can make us upset, the news, social media, people, circumstances. Yet every time you allow yourself to get upset you are holding up a stop sign to your incoming flow of blessings.

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Relax today! You need to. Peace pours cold water on "upset." Shake the dust off your feet and live in Love, Joy, Peace and Tranquility.

January 24:

Luke 6: 20-21, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”

Jesus' opening words of the Sermon on the Mount were, "BLESSED...ARE....YOU...."

Do you know this morning that you are BLESSED? It's true!

It's time for you to begin to talk like you're blessed, act like your blessed. When someone asks you how are you, why not say, "I am BLESSED!"

Somebody recently said, "For a while when anybody asked how I was I'd say I was blessed & highly favored. Then somebody I trusted told me not to say that unless I really meant it, after which I started questioning myself & now I just say that I'm fine thanks. Still sad that the guy stole my joy."

No matter what people or circumstances do to you, YOU ARE BLESSED, because Jesus said so in Luke chapter 6.

DECLARE: "I am blessed even when sick or troubled! I am blessed wherever I go! I always have more than enough, because God is gooooooooood to me! Amen!!!!!"

January 22:

Hebrews 12:1-2, "...let us THROW OFF everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus..."

These verses tell us to "throw off" everything that hinders us from being our true selves, our real selves in Christ.

Here are eight things to "throw off" in 2018:

1.) Trying to please everyone.

2.) Fearing change

3.) Living in the past

4.) Overthinking

5.) Being afraid to be different

6.) Sacrificing your happiness for others

7.) Thinking your not good enough

8.) Thinking you have no purpose

Anything on that list "speak" to you? Throw it off in 2018!

Remember, you are allowed to be a masterpiece AND a work in progress at the same time!

PRAYER: "Dear God, I will throw off, get rid of, or repent from everything in my life that hinders me or hinders my relationship with you, and I will run with perseverance the race marked out for me, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

January 18:

Life can sometimes feel scary and stressful. You may even feel all alone.

Yet, through prayer we can be lifted up, regain our peace, and most importantly...feel close to God, so that we don't have to feel alone anymore.

God hears your prayers, and answers them according to his will (1 John 5:14).

PRAYER: "Dear God, Thank you for your strength and presence. I never have to feel alone again. Thank you for hearing my prayers, and for helping me to have strength, faith. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen."

January 16:

It is freezing today, below zero, and you might not feel like getting out of bed. Besides the weather, you might be painfully aware of your own mistakes and flaws.

I have good news today, from a Scripture shared last Sunday.

God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9. NKJV) God is not embarrassed, angry, or ashamed of your flaws and imperfections...and you shouldn't be either! God's grace is sufficient for you. God is going to be your strength today. He's got your back today.

So go into this cold day with your head up and a smile on your face...because God's grace is sufficient to keep you fueled and strong through it today!!

PRAYER: "Dear God, thank you for your grace, thank you for your strength, thank you for your mercies which are new every morning. When I am weak, then I am strong!! Your grace is sufficient for me, today, and everyday!!! Oooooh yeeeaaah!!! Amen!!"

January 15:

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - â€­â€­Proverbsâ€¬ â€­4:23â€¬.

Guard your heart. Be cautious who you open your heart to. Be sure they’re worthy of it! People use words carelessly and make promises and intentions they cannot and don’t intend to keep.

That’s why we’re told told to guard our heart. It's ok as Christians to say, "No" to some people. This isn’t being defensive or unkind or unloving. It's about being self-protective. It’s about being wise, and it shields you from having to clean up an emotional mess that somebody could create in your life.

Psalm 118: 5-6, "When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"Maybe you are "hard pressed" by problems from 2017 that have carried over into 2018, or perhaps new difficulties have arisen in your life this month.If you are "hard pressed", call upon the Lord now! Prayer is our first defense, not our last resort! Your Father is the Almighty God! When you call upon him, God will do great things in your life! Notice the Psalmist said, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" Who was he speaking to? He was writing this as a psalm for others to sing, but he was ALSO saying this to himself. He was building his own faith up by saying, "The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid!"Sometimes you have to encourage yourself! Sometimes you have to build up your own faith! The world won't do it. T.V. won't do it. The government won't do it. Hollywood won't do it. Some days you have to just build up your own faith by talking to yourself about the goodness and power of God. So cry out to him...He will come through for you, guaranteed!PRAYER: "Dear Lord, when I am hard-pressed, I will cry out to you, and you will lead me to a spacious place a blessings! I will declare in faith, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" In Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

January 10:

Romans 15: 1-2, The Message, "Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

Remember that cross that Jesus tried to carry up the hill, the one that was TOO HEAVY for him?

In Mark 15: 21, God made sure a man by the name of Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry it. That bystander couldn't STOP Jesus' pain but he COULD make it a little easier for Jesus.

Listen to this: Do what you can. Don't just talk about love, think about love, sing about love. LOVE someone today. Help others "carry their cross." Make someone's "cross" a little easier to carry today.

As Romans 15: 1-2 says, "Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” Be a blessing to someone today!

PRAYER: "Dear God, I am learning that I am blessed to BE a blessing, and I am saved in order to SERVE, and because I am strong and able in the faith, I need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter. Lord, help me to see the need around me, and help me to be prompted by your Holy Spirit to step in and be a blessing and listen and care and encourage those who need it, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

January 9:

Psalm 46: 1-3 says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

Notice these verses say that "we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."

The Bible doesn't say that once you become a Christian, life becomes all sunshine and rainbows. We do have to go through some difficulties, sometimes. That's life, and the facts of life don't change just because we are people of faith.

But another fact of life is that God is YOUR refuge and YOUR strength today!! So do not be afraid of what you will face today! Do not be afraid of what you will face this week! God's got your back, He's your refuge, He's your strength, and He won't let you go through the trials of life.

PRAYER: "Dear God, I thank you that you are my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble! Therefore I will not fear, though problems and people sometimes come against me. I have the victory now and everyday, because of you, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

January 6:

"But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” - Jesus, Matthew 4:4.

What do you do when you first get up in the morning? At some point you make breakfast, right? You wouldn’t go into your garbage can and get some scraps and old food from the garbage and put it on a plate and eat for breakfast, would you? You probably wouldn’t eat a breakfast of donuts and chocolate candy bars, would you? Of course not. Whatever you eat for breakfast, you probably take time to make... a healthy breakfast that might include eggs or cereal or toast and maybe some Orange juice, or milk….good stuff, right?

You have to feed your SOUL and your MIND with ‘good stuff’ every day. God’s not going to do it for you, just like God’s not going to feed you scrambled eggs and Orange juice.

Feed your SOUL and MIND with God's Word and prayer, and make the necessary changes in 2018 to make it a TRULY NEW year!

January 4:

When King David concluded his 23rd Psalm, he ended it by saying, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

Notice the confidence David has in God.

He didn't say, "Maybe goodness and mercy shall follow me..."

He didn't say, "Hopefully goodness and mercy shall follow me..."

He said, "SURELY goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."

You and I can have that kind of bold faith, trusting that SURELY goodness and mercy shall follow us, all the days of our lives!

Today, dare to have bold faith! Let go of doubts and apprehension, dare to be confident that your Heavenly Father's goodness and mercy will follow you always!

PRAYER: "Dear God, I echo the words of David, and I say that SURELY goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I WILL dwell in your house forever, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

January 3:

Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, GUARD your heart, for everything you do flows from it."Why does God's Word tell us to guard our hearts?Because every single day we hear a lot of things, some positive, some negative, and if we're not careful...some of those negative things can take root into our hearts and become negative mental strongholds. You can tell when negativity has taken "root" into someone when that person is chronically depressed, or constantly cranky, or prone to outbursts of anger, or has no joy and no peace. I've been there, done that, and it's not fun. So the word of the day is GUARD, as in guard your heart! If you hear a lot of negative things, don't let YOURSELF become negative. If people around you are anger, don't YOU become angry. If people are grumpy around you, don't join in and BECOME grumpy yourself.Guard your heart today by counteracting the negativity around you by speaking God's Word, praying things like:"Thank you God that I am blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)." Thank you God that you supply all of my needs according to your glorious riches in Christ (Philippians 4:19)." Thank you God that all the things that I need are added on to me as I seek first your Kingdom (Matthew 6:33)."

January 2:

One of the best ways that we can put into practice the "love one another" Jesus teaching is to truly LISTEN to someone.

Some people never get heard, and they ache to be received, even in their pain/confusion/fear.

Others, who seem to repeat their stories, over and over, perhaps have never been truly heard on a heart-level.

So, they keep sharing, hoping someone will listen with more than just ears and minds.

I don't know about you, but when I am heard, deeply, and received ... it's as if my soul has been held and hugged. I get a profound sense of being seen and accepted.

Well, I like to do that for others, to truly listen to someone, to be the person who hears, holds, and reflects back for others. I consider it to be an honor, a sacred trust.

Listening...it's a simple, yet powerful way to "love one another" and to bring a bit of healing to a hurting heart, and a hurting world.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, please help me to be a good listener, to anyone who needs their heart hugged and anyone in my life who needs some emotionally healing, in Jesus' name, amen!"

January 1:

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you...that you may be successful wherever you go." Joshua 1:7

God wants you to be successful wherever you go! Be strong and very courageous in 2018...

Remove unrealistic expectations.

Take failed relationships off the ventilator, shed a tear and let them die.
Stop borrowing money and paying interest.
Stop over-commiting.
Learn how to say "No."
Stop trying to save everyone.
Take care of YOU and don't feel badly about it.
Do what you CAN do, don't regret what you CAN'T do.
Exercise, eat right, sleep right, think right.
Stop answering calls and texts that bring you down.
Create your days. Paint them with peace, fill them with LOVE!
Having a great year begins with one choice, and then another, and then another...knowing that God is with you every step of the way!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, from now on, I will be strong and very courageous to take practical steps to go after the new things that you have for me in 2018, in Jesus' name, amen!"

What is it that you are trying to do with your life right now? Whatever it is...commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed!

Not "might" succeed. Not "maybe" succeed. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans WILL succeed...and if you're on the wrong track, God will make sure that you get back on the RIGHT track!

How do you commit your actions to the Lord? You pray and ask God to guide you, and you only do the things that you believe is God's will for your life, and you have an unwavering faith mentality, don't let doubt seep in!

Proverbs 16:3 still works! Commit your actions to the Lord and your plans will succeed IS STILL TRUE!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, From now on, from this day forward, I will commit my actions and plans to you, O Lord, knowing that my plans will succeed, in Jesus' name, amen!"

December 21:

No matter what happens in your life, no matter what comes against you, no matter what challenges you face, you CAN DO whatever you need to do in your life through Christ who strengthens you. God never promises us a troublefree life but He does promise us that He will never leave us nor will He forsake us. You never have to live in fear because God is working on your situation. Do not be afraid, God is with you all the time!The Bible says" God choose you on purposed because He loves you. Everyday of your life is written in His Book before you even breath one of them.Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE."God knows every decision you gonna make before you make them and He still loves you unconditionally. Let me tell you something, when you in the lowest pit, God has His eye on you. His arm is not too short to reach into your pit and lift you out.What you going through now is a moment in part. It's not going to last forever, this too shall pass.No matter how long, no matter how it feels like, DON'T YOU EVER GIVE UP!

December 19:

The truth is, your day will go better when you PRAY FIRST.

Have you prayed yet? If not, then immediately spend at least 10 minutes talking to God and listening to your heart, because that's where God speaks to you.

Ready?

Go!

December 15:

Time is the most precious asset, gift, blessing you could ever have!

It's the one asset that you can't get more of, once it's spent. When you've spent time, you can't get it back.

Therefore...tell the people in your life, "I love you!" Say it loud and say it clear, and don't wait!

December 14:

There is a God.

There is a Jesus.

But there's also a devil.

It's all true. Everything is true.

So if you pray and seek the Lord, you will see the goodness of God in your life today, even this weekend.

STOP striving. Feel like you're overwhelmed by the pressures of life? Stop. Give it to the God who manages the Universe, He can surely handle you.

Open up your heart, and trust.

Repeat this over and over again until it's in your DNA: "I am not alone. God won't leave me. I am more than a conqueror! God and I are well able to handle anything that comes my way, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

December 11:

Don't let anyone rob your joy! Each of us will face people and things that want to steal our happiness. Commit to joy anyways!

Just like you 'check the locks' on your house every night, GO! check the locks on your heart. BOLT the locks! Wipe off others negativity, doubt and sarcasm.

Feel God's acceptance and love. Say it out loud! "The joy of the Lord IS my strength! I'm loved and accepted and don't have to prove anything to anyone!"

Be joyful today, even in trials, because YOU KNOW you're not alone!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I choose JOY! I make the choice to rejoice on this Monday! I ignore the negativity, doubt and bitterness of this world, and I walk in the joy of the Lord, because the joy of the Lord is my strength, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

December 6:

"Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”- John 8:12.

As long as you're following Jesus, you never have to worry about "walking in darkness," i.e., living in uncertainty or confusion or fear.

Today, pray, and then just do what you feel in your spirit that the Lord is telling you to do, and you can rest assured that you are on the right track.

The wise men followed the star...you have to follow the star that's in your own heart. You are led by God every day.

PRAYER: "Dear God, I trust that I always have the light of the world within my heart, and that I am led by you whether I feel like it or not. Today I will do what I feel in my heart that you want me to do, according to your Word, confident that I'm on the right path, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

December 5:

There's a story about a little boy who couldn't wait for his new baby sister to come home from the hospital. He couldn't wait to be near her, to talk to her. But his parents didn't want him to be left alone with her. After all he was only four years old, so they wanted to supervise his visits. He kept begging to be alone with her, so one night his parents finally relented. The boy tiptoed into her room, stood next to his sister's crib and said: "Tell me about God - I'm starting to forget."

There are times when we as adults get so caught up in the "rat race" and all of our responsibilities. There are weeks when we've been dealing with difficult people, the paying of bills and doctors' appointments, we begin to lose touch with God. No wonder in Matthew 18: 2-4 (NIV), “He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

What did Jesus mean by ‘change and become like children’? It certainly doesn’t mean that we become immature and act childish in the traditional sense, but that we accept things in simplicity.

All of God's innumerable thoughts toward you are filled with good for you. Rest in His heart that

He will do good for you today.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, how precious are your thoughts about me, every day! Thank you God, that

you're always thinking of good things for me, and you're always planning good things for my

future, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

November 28:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power!" - Ephesians 6:10.

You're so much stronger than you think you are. God is breathing strength and courage into you, right NOW!

See yourself as God sees you, powerful, resilient, brave and full of courage!

DECLARE: "I am STRONG today and everyday, whether I feel like it or not. My strength does not depend upon feelings or opinions or beliefs; my strength depends upon CHRIST who lives in me! Ooooh YEEEEEEEEEAH!!!"

The gardener has no difficulty imagining the beauty of the flower when he plants the seed.

Begin to imagine the beauty of your future by planting the seeds of faith into your mind.

Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11: 24)

What do you want to see in your life?

Develop the faith of the gardener today and know that as you plant the seeds of a beautiful and bright tomorrow, that it will surely come to pass in its time.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I choose to take your Son, Jesus, at his word! I trust that whatever I ask for in prayer, if I believe that I have received it, then it will manifest, in Jesus mighty name, amen."

November 22:

Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you!"

Ask God for help!

I ask Him for everything...help in my ministry, my family, a better attitude when I feel cranky, favor in situations that are difficult, no side effects to medication, supernatural healing for loved ones, better sleep, etc etc.

Don't be afraid to ask. Be heaven's PEST! ASK ASK ASK and BELIEVE! Your Father has so much to share with you!

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I come boldly before the throne of grace, asking for what I need, trusting you to provide for me, in Jesus mighty name, amen."

November 21:

1 Peter 1:17, The Message Bible, "You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living." What would be examples of sloppy living there? Overindulging in food or drink too often, gossiping, getting grumpy or cranky when you don't get your way all the time, and generally not doing what you know you should do.Do what you love to do, but be careful not to cross the line and do things you know God wouldn't approve of.God gives us rules not because he's a killjoy but because he wants to keep us on the right track. If we overindulge in some area of our lives, we pay the consequences. PRAYER: "Dear Father, I love all the blessings that you lavish upon me, but I will not take advantage of your grace in my life by consistently doing things I know you don't approve of. I will honor You by living a life that is pleasing and acceptable and your sight, in Jesus mighty name, amen."

November 20:

Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

God says when you think there's not enough, it's time to live with a mindset of "God has enough! There's plenty!"

God has PLENTY of blessings for you and He loves to bless you! I hear God say "To provide is my delight. Believe that all things are working together. Your provision is simple for me."

Open your heart to receive this word! Hold out your hands and believe that God is giving you PLENTY of blessings, PLENTY of love, PLENTY of money, PLENTY of friends and people that you need.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I'm holding both hands out for myself and my family! Yes Lord I'm in agreement! I receive PLENTY of blessings from you everyday, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

November 17:

Matthew 6:31 in The Message Bible, "What I'm trying to do here is to get you to RELAX, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving."Matthew 6:32 in The Message Bible, "People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works."Recently I have been reminded that sometimes things come up and people do things that throw a monkey wrench into your carefully laid plans. When that happens, you can focus on it and let it ruin your day, or you can choose a relaxed, detached attitude and keep your peace.Today, choose a relaxed, detached attitude. Let go of the need to have things go your way. Trust in God, and just let people do what they want to do and let life be what it is...without losing your simple joy. PRAYER: "Dear Lord, in this incredible mess we call life, I have days where things go my way and I have days where things do not go my way. So, I choose a relaxed attitude, letting go of the need to have life on my terms. People can do what they want, life can be what it is, and I will smile and keep my peace and my simple joy of the Lord, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

November 15:

Psalm 34:5, "Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces."

If you keep your focus on other people, or the news, or social media, your attitude may very well be a roller coaster, up and down.

You need to take time to turn off the T.V. and cellphone and get alone and calm and center yourself, because God's Word promises that those who look to God for help will be radiant with joy.

If you want to feel joy, take a moment now, before your day begins, to breathe deeply, and give your concerns to God, and set your spiritual temperature at a high faith level.

PRAYER: "I look to you for help, God, and I give you all of my cares and concerns! Father, I have complete confidence that you will take good care of things in my life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

November 10:

There's a difference between happiness and joy.

Happiness is based on experiences that give you a certain level of comfort or excitement. Happiness is a good feeling derived from you liking your current life circumstances.

Joy is a calm delight, and inner contentment, whether or not you like your life circumstances. Nehemiah 8 8:10 says "for the joy of the Lord is your strength." When you have the joy of the Lord in our heart, we have a joy that cannot be broken because Jesus is our source.

When Jesus is your joy and your foundation, nothing will ever shake you because what you feel is not based upon circumstances. You will have peace even in the most difficult seasons of your life because the Jesus kind of joy lives within you, reminding you that God is always in control, even when you don't like your life circumstances.

So ask yourself, do you have the Jesus kind of Joy, or only mere happiness?

If you don't have the joy of the Lord, then admit your need for God, bow your head, and say, "Dear Lord, I confess my sins to you. I humbly turn away from my sins, and I re-affirm Jesus as my Lord and my Savior. I give you my life, because you gave me yours on the cross, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

November 8:

Some days you just don't feel strong. I have those days. We're all in the same boat.

The good news is you don't have to be or feel strong all the time. You don't have to rely upon your own strength.

The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6:10, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

That was his way of saying be strong in THE LORD'S strength, not your own!

Then say... "Thank you God that I am strong in the power of your might, and I am filled with your Holy Spirit power everyday, in Jesus' mighty name, amen," and you will find new strength and energy for the day!

November 7:

Psalm 23: 1-4, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me."

Everyday you "walk through the valley of the shadow of death," but you can FEAR NO EVIL, because God is with you!

If you want to experience a life that is filled with God's peace and goodness, learn to let your heart be at rest as you let go of your worries to the Lord.

PRAYER: "Lord Jesus, I thank You that because You are my Shepherd, I shall not want or lack anything I need. I cast my worries and cares into Your hands, and I trust that You will take care of everything that is troubling me right now. In Jesus' mighty name, amen."

November 6:

The Message Bible's version of Matthew 6: 31, "What I’m trying to do here is to get you to RELAX, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving."

On this Monday, when you choose to relax, let go of the need to control outcomes, and trust things into God's care, that's when beautiful things happen spontaneously.

PRAYER: "I'm relaxing into a state of ease and grace, trusting you, God, for the best possible outcomes, letting go of control, and simply enjoying the journey, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

November 3-5:

Micah 7:8, "Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light."

Whatever it is that you're going through, you WILL get through it. God will not give up on you!

Trust that God's invisible hand is holding you up. The Bible says He holds all things together, including you!

DECLARE:"Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. I believe it! I know it! I declare it, in Jesus' name!"

November 1:

Psalm 27:13, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Believe that the Lord is faithful and good to you. He will carry you through every trouble. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in wisdom today. You'll accomplish the tasks you have at hand with amazing results!

DECLARE: "Today I will see the goodness of the Lord in my life in spontaneous, unplanned ways, because my heavenly father loves to bless me in unexpected ways, in Jesus mighty name!"

October 31:

Psalm 91: 1-2, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord , “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

As you go through your week, you will have good days and bad days, ups and downs, we know that's life. But in this song we are encouraged to say out loud, "God is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Believe it! Say it! Say it with enthusiasm, because it will put you into an immediate positive mental attitude!

DECLARE: "This is a great day! 'God is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust,' in Jesus' mighty name!"

October 30:

Today, the blood of Jesus is covers you and speaks against every work of darkness in your life. Every stronghold, every ailment that has brought you challenges. Every condition that has led to negative thoughts. The blood of Jesus speaks against every challenge that is literally draining you.

Never allow the circumstances of life weary you. Don't let what you've been through define who you are; God will ultimately work it out. The blood of Jesus is stronger than any problem coming against you! Stay focused and claim God's promise, that nothing is impossible with God!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I claim the blood of Jesus for my life! I have the victory now. I am an overcomer now! The blood of Jesus is covering me and speaks against every work of darkness! Thank you Lord, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

October 27-29:

Psalm 37:1-9, "Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. 2 For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land."When we watch the news and we see the crime that people commit, we get angry and we want justice. It's natural for us to want to see evil people pay for their crimes, but this Psalm is telling us not to allow ourselves to become angry and bitter about the evil that people do. There's no point in becoming bitter about the evil that we see in the world. This Psalm assures us that God will bring justice, and there will come a time that every wicked person will experience the consequences of their actions. Think Harvey Weinstein!But until we see wicked people fall, we shouldn't let ourselves become angry and bitter. Trust that the Lord will do what is right, for everyone, the good and the bad.PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I will not fret because of evildoers, or be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and soon fade. I will cease from anger and forsake wrath. The wicked plot against the righteous. But you laugh at the wicked, for you sees his day is coming! Thank you Lord, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

October 26:

One of the devil's most successful strategies or tactics is to get people hooked on and addicted to anxiety and tension. When we're young, we feel carefree and light-hearted, because we're not aware of all the problems and dangers in the world. But once we begin to experience pain or conflicts or life's problems, we begin to realize that the world can be a dangerous place to live in.

When we begin to face the problems of life, we begin to know what it means to feel shock and fear and anxiety, and when that begins to happen in our lives, we risk falling into the mental trap of becoming what I call chronically anxious; becoming physiologically addicted to the adrenaline rush of anxiety, living with a low grade anxiety even when there may not be anything to be anxious about...just because we are anticipating some new problem, some new danger, some new phone call with bad news.

Some people become so mentally attached to anxiety that they almost feel uncomfortable when nothing is going wrong. So for these folks it almost seems as if they subconsciously attracting more problems, more drama, more conflict into their lives just to recreate and sustain that feeling of anxiety that their body and mind have grown accustomed to feeling.

If that makes any sense to you at all, then the good news is that we don't have to fall for the devil's scheme of being addicted or accustomed to anxiety. We don't have to fall for the devil's tactic of getting us physiologically addicted to anxiety. We can learn what it means to live in PEACE. The Apostle Paul, the greatest missionary who ever lived, who lived in the first century, experienced many, many problems. Towards the end of his life he was imprisoned, yet while he was in prison, he said, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

If you would describe yourself as a worry-wart, if you have more days where you feel anxious then not, if you sense that you are subconsciously waiting for the next shoe to drop, the next problem to arise, the next phone call with bad news, then you can learn to live in PEACE. Begin right now by slowly reading Philippians 4: 4-6 in these different versions...

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV), "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7 (TLB), "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7, The Message, "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Then make this your mantra for today and perhaps the rest of this week...

DECLARE: "I am calm. I have tranquility. I have serenity. I pray about everything. I tell God my needs, and I thank him for his answers. I experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace keeps my thoughts and my heart quiet and at rest as I trust in Christ Jesus. I have tranquility. Nothing disturbs my peace, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

October 24:

Matthew 6: 31-32, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

What is it that you need right now in your life? Jesus teaches us in Matthew chapter 6 that you have nothing to worry about, because your heavenly Father knows what you need even before you ask him. All that you have to do, according to Jesus in Matthew 6:33, is to seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness, live his way, his path, and all that you need will be added into your life!

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I will seek first your kingdom and your righteousness, trusting that all the things I need will eventually be added into my life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

October 23:

2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

God has not given you a spirit, an attitude, of fear. So if you have fear, it's not from God. The Bible says to fear God and keep his commandments, but beyond that, we as Christians should have NO fear!

God has given you power, love, and a sound mind. Power, love, and a sound mind are your birthright as a Spirit-born child of God. So whatever you have to do this week, you and God got this!

You have what it takes! You have power! You have love! You have a sound mind! So attack this Monday with enthusiasm! Go after this week with gusto and faith!!

DECLARE: "God has not given me a spirit of fear! Therefore I have no fear! I have power! I have love! I have a sound mind! I will have an awesome day and a blessed week, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!

October 19:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12.)

Satan is referred to as the "prince of the power of the air" in Ephesians 2:2. He is the "ruler of this world" in John 12:31. Unbelievers are caught "in the snare of the devil" (2 Timothy 2:26), lie in the "power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19), and are in bondage to Satan (Ephesians 2:2).

However, God is still sovereign! God is in control, and believers are no longer under the rule of Satan (Colossians 1:13)!

The battlefield is the mind and Satan would like to convince us that he is powerful, but he is not powerful. Today, remember that Satan is defeated and we are victorious!

PRAYER: "Thank you God that Jesus defeated the devil on the cross and we are victorious and triumphant today and everyday, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

October 17:

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV), which says that God "...is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us!"

Don't worry about delays and disappointments A delay in getting something you need can seem very frustrating on the surface. You clearly need or want something and you've put in the effort to get it...but somehow, it seems to keep on taking it's sweet time before it comes to you...and that can start to negatively influence your moods and your attitude. You may even begin to think: Why do I consistently run into a brick wall when it comes to certain things that I need?

But the things you need will come to you at the perfect time, and you just have to trust that. Trust that God's plan for you is greater than you can imagine and that the plan is unfolding according to it's perfect time schedule. God will bring it and you home safe at last.

In the meantime, you can get bitter and cynical and grumpy, or you can be content with your life as it is now, and have a hopeful, childlike trust that the delays were actually a part of the natural flow of your life.

Remember, as you waste your breath complaining about life, someone out there is breathing their last. So appreciate what you have and know that what you're waiting for is on it's way in God's time!!

Ephesians 3:20-21, The Message, "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."

PRAYER: "I trust you Lord while I'm waiting, and I have a bold, childlike, simple trust that all good things come to me at the right time, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

October 16:

Luke 23:34, "Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

This is an amazing prayer request from Jesus Christ to God the Father. Think about it. There is no greater sin one could commit than to murder the very Son of God, and yet, there was not even the slightest hint of any revenge or unforgiveness in Jesus’s heart towards His unbelieving murderers. We know for certain that Father God will grant His Son’s request.

Here's the point (read this more than once), since God forgave the ones responsible for murdering His Son, you and I can be reassured that God will forgive our sins, mistakes, and shortcomings, and you can forgive yourself!

PRAYER: "Thank you God for your amazing grace and awesome love that forgives even the sinners that don't ask for forgiveness, like those who crucified your Son. I receive forgiveness today for my sins and I let go of shame, guilt, and condemnation and I live in freedom and joy. I forgive myself because you first forgave me, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

October 13:

Some relationships we're meant to last forever, and some relationships were meant to last for just a season of your life, and it's okay to acknowledge that.

Relationships that last forever grow, evolve, change and strengthen. One sided relationships do not. One sided isn’t a relationship, it’s a recipe for a disaster...and you know you deserve better! Have the courage to walk away from a one-sided relationship. When one door closes, another opens.

Of course there is one relationship that is destined to last forever, and that is the most important relationship in your life, and that is your relationship with God. Some people will come and go. Some people will come and stay for a while in your life. Some people will come and stay for a lifetime. Then there is Jesus Christ, who will be with you forever, who will never leave you and never forsake you.

PRAYER: "Thank you God for all of the relationships in my life, the permanent ones, the temporary ones, and especially for my relationship with you that I have through Jesus Christ. I will have the courage to walk away from those relationships that are toxic, and I will have the courage to accept the good people that you are bringing into my life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

October 12:

Psalm 34:18 (NLT)

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

God is everywhere and he's always near, but his presence and power are especially close to us when we are broken hearted.

So when you have sad moments or life doesn't make sense, and you feel your faith going down, be quick to pray and call upon the Lord. He is close to you and he will save you when you are crushed in spirit.

Remember, when life breaks your heart, don't walk away from God, run to God.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord thank you that you are close to the broken hearted and that you rescue those whose spirits are crushed. When life breaks my heart I will run into your arms and receive your healing and amazing grace to rise up and begin again, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

October 10:

Do you know how blessed you are? The Apostle Paul tells you how blessed you truly are.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).

You are blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing! You have faith! You have hope! You have eternal life! You have healing! You have EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ!

Deuteronomy 28:3 further says, "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country."

Know that you are blessed today!!

DECLARE: "I AM BLESSED today and everyday!!! No matter how I feel, no matter what people say, no matter what my past is, no matter how much money I have, no matter what happens today, based upon God's Word, I declare that I AM BLESSED with EVERY spiritual blessing, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

October 6:

Psalm 145:18 "The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth."

On your best day when you feel great, or on your worst day when you feel terrible, the Lord is NEAR to all who call upon Him.

Whether you feel like it or not, the Lord is NEAR you right now. There is no distance or separation between you and Jesus. Have bold confidence today that Jesus is NEAR!

PRAYER: "Dear God thank you that you are near to all who call upon you, to all who call upon you in truth, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

October 5:

Proverbs 3 says, “Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all." (The Message)I need to read and reread the Scripture and I believe many of us need to. I'm constantly wanting to figure things out, and I can't. None of us can. Even the most Biblically knowledgeable Christians can't figure it all out. We just need to trust God for tomorrow, and, as the Scripture says, do our best to listen to his voice and do what he says. That's what I want to do today, and I encourage you to do it too. We can't always know why things happen, we can't always figure things out, but we can trust our Heavenly Father in the dark, knowing that brighter days are ahead for all of the children of God!PRAYER: "Dear God I will trust you from the bottom of my heart; I won’t try to figure out everything on my own. I will listen for your voice in everything I do, everywhere I go; knowing you are the one who will keep me on track, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

October 4:

It's been a hard couple of days, after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, and then the sad news of the death of musician Tom Petty at 66.

In the midst of scrolling through my Facebook, I saw a friend posting about his wife, who had gone through several cancer treatments. Tuesday was the day for test results. The doctor told my friend and his wife, "Everything looks great! You don't need to see me again for a year!" They walked out of the hospital with deep gratitude. He said, "What an amazing feeling!" My friend and his wife gave all the glory to Jesus Christ.

There is HOPE today, for you and I through Jesus Christ!

Here's the key, read this VERY carefully...you can focus upon the evil happening all around the world, or you can focus upon the "God moments" all around us, the "God winks" that remind you that Jesus is active in our lives!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, help me to focus on the "God moments" in my life, the "Godincidences" all around me, and the "God winks" that I see in other people's lives. When I see all that you do in my life and all around me, I am filled with HOPE, despite all of the evil in the world. Thank you for the solid, unconquerable HOPE in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

October 2:

One of the names of God in the Bible is "Jehovah Jireh" which means "the Lord our PROVIDER."

On this Monday morning, trust God to provide for you! Jesus said in Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

If God feeds the birds of the air, how much more will He take care of you? You are so much more important to Him. So believe that He is providing all that you need.

Scripture tells us that He "went about doing good and healing all" (Acts 10:38). Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will continually supply the life, health, and provision you need.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I call upon you as "Jehovah Jireh", my provider! I have deep, strong faith on this day, trusting you to provide what I need because you are the same, yesterday, today, and forever, in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

September 26:

Philippians 4: 19, "my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus!"

A few years back, one day my wife and I were driving home, and we were lamenting the fact that our bank balance was kind of low, and it was going to be quite some time before payday. We got to our mailbox, and lo and behold...we found a check, made out to me!! I had taken some online healthcare test, as part of my health insurance, and they sent me a check for it.

I wasn't expecting the check, it was just for $100, but it was an answer to prayer. When I took the online health test, I had forgotten about the $100 that you get for taking this particular online health test. The point is that God knows what you need when you need it. Philippians 4:19 is still true! My God will meet all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus...believe it today!

PRAYER: "Thank you God that you WILL meet all of my needs according to your riches in Christ Jesus! I believe it today and therefore I live in peace today, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

September 20:

Matthew 7:7, Jesus stated, "ask, and it shall be given you; seek, you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you."What is it that you want, in your life?What change would you like to see in your life?What do you think God is saying to you right now regarding your life?Whatever your answer to those questions, ASK! Pray about it!Then after you've asked...seek, take practical steps to go after your goal.After you seek...knock, keep knocking and the right door will be open to you!When a young, Italian actor wanted to have his script made into a Hollywood movie, he knocked on several literal doors...until he finally found one director who would make his movie. The movie is Rocky, and the movie was made only after lots of asking, lots of seeking, and lots of knocking.So don't get discouraged when things don't change overnight in your life. Ask, seek, and knock...it works if you work it, because God is with you!PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I take to heart the words of Jesus! I will ask, seek, knock until I pass my finish line! I will not be deterred, disillusioned.or derailed! I am moving forward and forgetting what is behind! I have the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome every discouragement when some things don't work out for me! I will persevere, persist, and endure until I reach my goal, knowing that God will make sure that only the right door will open for me, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

September 19:

Do you have something you're stressing about? Do what you can about it...and then surrender it to God!

Let things go more often. Your time on this earth is too precious and too fleeting to waste agonizing over things that maybe cannot be changed. Release things into God's hands more often.

I do not find Jesus to ever be offended. He did not take things personally. Notice he said, "Father forgive them".. He didn't say, "I forgive you.".

He did not hold on to what people did to Him. He was truly free! He understood people on a deeper level and knew they were bound by sin.

So, when someone shoots a sarcastic comment to you, or does something to offend you, don't take ANY of it personally!! It's their issue, not yours. Pray for them and then let them go.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I let go of things more, from here on. I will let you deal with the difficult people, the people who are hard to get along with. I will not be troubled by the troublemakers and the drama people. I have surrendered the need to mentally grasp a hold of the drama and mess all around me, and I am walking in peace and joy. In Jesus' mighty name, amen."

September 18:

A woman named Ashley was getting ready to get married when she got grave news just before her wedding date.

She was diagnosed with cervical cancer and they were going to remove part or whole of her cervix. Four days ago before she went into the hospital her praying Christian friend called her up on the phone and commanded the cancer to leave her body.

After he prayed, Ashley said she felt a warmth in her abdomen. Her praying Christian friend told her it was the spirit of GOD resting on her and healing her!

She went back in and they told her there was no cancer to be found!

My friend, there is HOPE in the name of the Lord!

Be encouraged today, no matter what you'r facing, God is bigger than your problems!!

PRAYER: "Thank you God that there is always HOPE in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today I choose HOPE! Today I choose FAITH, and if my God is for me, who can be against me? In Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

September 12:

Good morning! The word of the day is Isaiah 40:31, "Those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

While we wait for God to bless us and help us and heal our land, we don’t have to be afraid. God has promised that because nothing can separate us from His love, we are more than conquerors in Him (see Romans 8:37). Let’s continue to put our trust in the Lord and have a confident expectation of good things coming our way.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, even though the world seems dark in many ways, I will wait upon you and trust in you, that you will deliver us and bring new blessings and a bright future dawning for all of us, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

September 11:

Romans 12:12, "Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble and persistent in prayer."

Sometimes we feel like it's not worth it..or we've tried and tried for so long we can find it hard to keep on trying when we're worn out or insecure.

But that very moment when you want to run, or give up, is the moment when miracles can happen! Right there! Right then!

Stand strong. Don't quit! Blessings are coming!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I choose to be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persist in prayer, knowing that if you are for me, who can be against me, and if I keep on moving forward, it'll all work out and I will be abundantly blessed, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

September 7:

Matthew 5:45, "He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Sometimes we get into this mentality that God is the celestial problem solver and prayer is the session where we tell God how to solve them.

You NEED problems. They stir up your FAITH. They STRENGTHEN you and make you WISE. STOP begging God to remove all of your problems.

He SEES your problems. He ALLOWED them. He promised to SUSTAIN you THROUGH them.

We live in a fallen-world. The rain falls on the just and on the unjust. The sun rises and sets on the good and the evil, alike. We are not entitled to a problem-free life. Instead of getting our feelings hurt because you didn't get your MIRACLE, yet…thank God for the miracles of LIFE, LOVE and FORGIVENESS.

Ride in the boat! Don't tell the Captain HOW to drive or WHERE to go. STOP wishing things were different.

KEEP BREATHING.

The sun WILL set on this day and TOMORROW may be better! It may be WORSE! Either way...God is WITH YOU, IN YOU, AROUND YOU, OVER YOU and UNDER YOU, and God always has your back! PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I will trust you even when I don't understand. I will replace complaining with praising. I will celebrate this life I have and trust that you are fully competent to steer this ship called life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

September 6:

Whatever difficult situation you are facing today, this week, this month, remember...

You are ENOUGH!

Meaning, you are strong enough. You are smart enough. You are spiritual enough.

How do I know? The Apostle Paul said, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and the spirit of God dwells in you?"

Do you see it? The TRUTH hidden in that verse?

You, your body, your being is the house for the ALMIGHTY GOD, the SOURCE of LIFE!

The very SPIRIT of OMNIPRESENT LOVE and POWER dwells In YOU! "God" lives in YOU.

So remember, you are OK. You are STRONG ENOUGH! You WILL get through this season and continue moving onward and upward. Your best is yet to come.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I don't see inadequacy. I don't see incompetence. I don't see lack. I see FULLNESS. I see POTENTIAL. I see HOLY SPIRIT POWER in me! I see the POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD living in me, I see CHRIST living in me, I see that I am the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! I see that I am STRONG IN THE LORD and the POWER OF YOUR MIGHT, and I will live with that spiritual confidence today, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

September 5:

Luke 6:31, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!"

On Saturday evening, a friend asked for help in moving into his new house. The five guys that had agreed to help him all refused to show up. So I said that we would be happy to help. So, on Sunday afternoon, my wife and my girls and other church friends and I spent most of Sunday helping our friend move his big furniture from Springfield to Bolivar, into his new home...and it felt great! It felt so good to be a blessing, and he and his wife were so appreciative.

Jesus said in Luke 6:31 to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but what Jesus didn't mention in that verse is the BLESSING that you receive from doing unto others.

So today, and this week, think about the people in your life. Think about your spouse, if you're married. Think about your best friend. Think about your mother or father, if they're still with you. Think about the people in your life, and think about what they would like to have from you...and go ahead and take the initiative and give!

Remember, we are blessed in order to be a BLESSING! If you give from a heart of love, you will get more than you give.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I am blessed by you and I am a disciple of Jesus Christ...and because I am a disciple of Jesus, I will do what he says in Luke 6:31. I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me, because I am blessed in order to be a blessing, and it feels so good to make a positive impact upon someone's life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

August 29:

Ephesians 5: 16, "Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days."

I read something this morning that has given me pause to reconsider how I'm going to live this day, from author and mystic Henri Nouwen: "When we are ready to die at any moment, we are also ready to live at any moment."

Is there any unfinished business that I need to finish should this turn out to be my last day?

I need to tell my wife and my family that I love them.

I need to be kind to some one just for the fun of it.

See something beautiful.

Say thank you.

I need to worry less about "things" and more about living well in the moment, seeing and appreciating the people right in front of me, the beauty all around me.

I need to forgive myself and someone else, and relax and remember that I can't fix it all today, and that that's ok.

DECLARE: "Today I am ready to live, REALLY live, knowing that I could leave this world at any moment. I choose to make the most of this day and every opportunity to do good and be good and to give love and laughter and joy, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

August 28:

In Matthew 10:8, Jesus told his disciples, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."

How in the world could ordinary Christians dare to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those who have leprosy? I mean, this was before Pentecost, before the time that God sent the Holy Spirit baptism to the disciples.

Read that sentence again, slowly...Jesus told his disciples, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."

Jesus must have had a lot of confidence in the power of God that was ALREADY INSIDE the disciples, for him to tell them to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those who have leprosy!

Jesus ALSO has a lot of confidence in the power of God that IS ALREADY inside of YOU!

Yes, YOU!

You have the same power of God that lived in the first Christians. Believe it! Embrace it! Live it today by walking with confidence into your Monday! Attack Monday with enthusiasm, knowing that YOU have the same power of God that lived in the first Christians!!

DECLARE: "I am confident of the fact that I have the power of God living in me, and God and I together will make it a marvelous Monday, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

August 24:

When Abraham and Sarah were waiting for their child and became impatient, they created Ishmael with a maidservant Hagar, and strife never left their life.

Trust God's timing. Don't block your blessings by moving too fast. When God is working on your behalf, be patient! Good things take time!

Don't get weary and don't get in the way! Your blessings are on their way!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, you know that oftentimes my natural inclination is to get impatient and in a hurry and do things my way. But I choose to be patient and trust that you are bringing the best into my life! I will be patient and trust that you are working on my behalf and bringing the best blessings into my life, in Jesus mighty name, amen!"

August 23:

Today, let's take the limits off of God and say, “God, I may not see how things can work out in the natural, but I know You are a supernatural God. I know You have blessings that already have my name on them. Lord, I just want to thank You in advance, knowing that you are going to take care of things and make a way for me!” If we pray like that and live like that, we will see God continue to amaze us with His goodness, and we’ll receive those blessings He has stored up for you!

August 22:

"He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye." - Deuteronomy 32:10

This verse is referring to God loving care for Israel, but it applies to you and I today.

As His beloved child, you are the apple of God’s eye. Expect good things to happen to you each day. Expect divine protection because His favor guards you like a shield.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I choose to expect good things. I choose to expect blessings. I choose to expect your will to unfold in my life in an amazing way, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

August 17:

The word of the day is Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God is always working behind the scenes in your life! No matter what you may be facing, no matter what trial you may be going through, God has a plan to turn things around in your favor.

You are called according to His purpose; so right now, He is working out a plan for your good. Right now, He is orchestrating the right people to come across your path. He is orchestrating the right opportunities for you.

You may not see it in the natural, but look with your eyes of faith. Come before Him with an open and humble heart trusting that He is guiding you.

Keep praying! Keep following Him! Keep praising! Keep believing! Keep declaring His Word! Meditate on His goodness, knowing that He is at work right now and rewards the people who seek after Him.

PRAYER: "Heavenly Father, thank You for receiving me just as I am through faith. I choose to believe You have so much more in store for me. I honor You and bless You in all that I do. My Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Thank You for working all things together for my good, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

August 16:

Psalm 103: 2, “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

God has given us many benefits today! He’s given us so much to be thankful for.

No matter what you may be facing today, forget not His benefits! God wants to satisfy you with good things. If you need healing today, healing is a benefit.

If you’ve made mistakes in your life, forgiveness is a benefit. If you feel tired and overwhelmed, strength is a benefit. As you turn your thoughts toward the Father today, He will fill you with His peace and strengthen you to live as an overcomer in every area of your life.

August 15:

SING your way out!!

When you don't see answers, you're not sure where to turn or what to do..... praise God before the answer comes!

Praise Him for bringing the hope we need. He sets a table in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23) and our pain. He sits down with us in the midst of the darkness and brings light!

Sing your way out! Lift up your voices before the answer comes. He's a good good God and won't let you down!

Break through! The answers are coming! Sing and dance your way through my friends! Hope draws near! You are not alone.

August 14:

Matthew 19:26, "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Today, Monday morning, I want you to know that with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

Our church now has a MORE youth than before!!

Our church now has a MORE children and youth attending Sunday School!!

Our church now has a MORE people attending worship than ever, in our 27 year history!!

Our church now has a MORE outreach to the community!!

It's because with God all things are possible!

Are you facing an impossible situation? Have faith that with God all things are possible even in the most difficult, challenging situations that you face right now!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I know that with man some things are impossible, but with you, God, all things are possible today, everyday. I'm going to trust that you are going to bring me through all of my hard times, in Jesus mighty name, amen."

August 12:

"A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the $20 dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. You are special - Don't EVER forget it."

August 10:

Colossians 1: 17, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Are things in your life falling apart? Trust the Lord to hold all thing together in your life. Rest and trust in His favor, His wisdom, and His supply for you.

He will hold you together when you feel like you're falling apart. Colossians 1:17 promises that, in every troubling situation, Jesus will hold together your family, relationships, and health in perfect wholeness.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I'm trusting in you to hold me together when I'm falling apart, and I know you will, because you are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, in Jesus mighty name, amen."

August 7:

The Bible says you can do ALL things through Christ who gives you strength!" (Philippians 4:13)

The Bible also says “give ALL your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

These Bible verses remind us that God cares about ALL of the things in your life, ALL of the things that trouble you are important to your Heavenly Father...

...and that you can do ALL of the tasks that lie before you because of the power that lies within you.

So go into your day with bold confidence and strength! You can do ALL things because God cares for you!

PRAYER: "Thank you God that I can give ALL my worries and cares to you, for you care for me, and I can do ALL things today because Christ gives me strength. You and I got this, we are an unbeatable team, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

August 4:

Good morning! The word of the day is ACCEPTED.

If you have been born again with God's nature, he loves you just the way you are, BUT he loves you too much to leave you that way. We who are born again believers are predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29), and God won't give up on us until we arrive.

The sweetest sound you will ever hear is when the Holy Spirit whispers into your heart, "Relax, you are already accepted".

PRAYER: "Thank you God that I am accepted by your grace, and I am born again, which gives me the assurance that I will see you one day face to face, and I will hear the words, 'well done, my good and faithful servant'. In Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

July 21:

Today, rest in God’s promise to supply ALL your needs.

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19). PRAYER: "Dear Father, I'm not looking at my lack, I'm not worried about my bills, because YOU have promised to supply all of my needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus! Thank you Lord, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

July 18:

Psalm 17, "A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." (v.22, The Message).

Don't take yourself too seriously. We need to laugh at ourselves. Laughter is like an internal workout. It exercises your soul and keeps it healthy.

DECLARE: "I walk by faith and let go of fear! Today is an awesome day, and there's not a man on earth or a devil in hell that can separate me from my awesome Heavenly Father, in Jesus's mighty name, amen!"

July 14:

From Heaven to you!

There are no emergencies in heaven. You are a citizen of heaven. Believe it...and Relax in the reality of being in Him! -Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 31:8 - "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

PRAYER: "Thank you God that you go before me and will always be with me, and that you will never leave me nor forsake me. I will not be afraid or be discouraged, in Jesus's mighty name, amen!"

July 13:

In Matthew chapter 9, a paralyzed man was brought before Jesus. There is no dialogue recorded between the paralyzed man (paralytic) and Jesus. Yet Matthew 9:1 says that Jesus told him, "Take heart son, your sins are forgiven!" This paralytic did not confess his sins in the traditional sense of confessing your sins. So why did Jesus tell him that his sins were forgiven? How did Jesus know that this man was sorry for his sins? Well Matthew doesn't say, but the simplest answer is that Jesus knew this man's heart, even without this man saying a word.

Jesus knows your heart too. Jesus knows that you are authentic. Jesus knows that you love God, even though you sometimes mess up and sin. Jesus does not judge you for your mistakes. He knows your heart. Jesus knows that you love him and have faith in him, even despite your moments of doubt and unbelief.

So don't let yourself get too anxious about moments of sin or doubt or unbelief. He will not reject you. Jesus knows your heart, just as he knows everyone's heart. Even without saying anything to Jesus, Jesus knows you better than anybody else knows you. Jesus knows you better than your spouse knows you. Jesus knows you even better than your best friend knows you.

So don't worry. Be encouraged. Your Savior knows you, and will not let you go.

PRAYER: "Thank you God that you know me inside and out, you look past my mistakes and my moments of doubt, and you know my heart intimately, and you will never let me go, in Jesus's mighty name, amen!"

July 12:

Wherever you are, you are blessed!

Today you might feel happy or sad, excited or discouraged. But no matter how you feel, you ARE blessed. Don't be led by your emotions, be led by God's Word about you.

“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country” (Deuteronomy 28:3).

DECLARE: Today I am blessed! I am too blessed to be depressed! I am too blessed to be stressed! I am what I am because of what God says about me, and God says I am blessed!!!

July 11:

The word "confess" sounds like, "Uh oh, I've done something bad, and now I have to feel guilty and confess."

But confession is beneficial to you. It's not merely about feeling bad about yourself.

The Bible says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored" (James 5:16).

We all need to open up to others, to someone, and tell them about our weaknesses, our struggles, the raw reality of our lives.

As we become transparent and own up to our own failings; as we pray for each other...we are HEALED.

How much better my heart feels when I know that someone has listened to me and knows me, the good, the bad, and the ugly about myself!

So now, think of someone you trust, and contact them, and make arrangements to meet for coffee, and have a really good heart-to-heart conversation, allow yourself to be emotionally vulnerable and "real" with someone! Confession is still good for the soul.

July 7:

Matthew 5:43-44, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

‘Love your enemies’ is what Christ says here to His disciples, and Jesus certainly practiced what He preached.

Jesus told us to love our enemies, and He does the same for His own enemies. He came to die for all of His enemies, for the ungodly, for the whole of this fallen sinful world of humanity (Romans 5:6, 1 John 2:2).

Yes, there is a judgment awaiting all people who die as unbelievers, but the Bible also says in Psalm 66:3-4 (NKJV), “Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.”

So today, what rude co-worker can you pray for? What difficult family member can you say a prayer for? What obstinate neighbor can you be kind to?

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, you love your enemies, and you call me to love my enemies. It's a high calling, but I can do it, by your grace, knowing that "your enemies shall submit themselves to you, all the earth shall worship you" (Psalm 66: 3-4), in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

July 6:

Hebrews 12:1b, "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Drop that heavy load of expectations! Drop that list of those who hurt you!

Save your strength! Release it from your grip! What you carry is heavy, burdensome and undermining!

God says, "Listen to me, child: IT'S TIME TO DROP IT!"

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, today I will throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles me, letting go of the emotional baggage that does not serve me, and I will run with perseverance the race marked out for me, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

July 5:

Take heart! You need help? God is faithful. He will help you by giving you comfort and by getting you to where you need to be in life.

“Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.” Psalm 63:7.

God's got your back today! You're never alone. Some misunderstand you. Some overlook you. They don't love you like God does.

God will always help you and do the right thing in your life. Open your heart to your Heavenly Father today.

July 4:

We say, "God Bless America." What is the definition of BLESS? It means to invoke divine favor upon; ask God to look favorably on.

The Bible says in James 1:12, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

We are blessed when God gives us His favor, but we are ALSO blessed when we persevere under trials...and you have!!

You have endured trials, so you are a blessed person!! See yourself as God sees you, blessed with the crown of life because you have stood the tests of life and you have remained faithful!

PRAYER: "I am blessed by you, Lord God, and I will continue to be blessed as I persevere under trial and stand the test of time. Let your love reign in my life so that I may recognize that my blessings come from you, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

July 3:

As we read the Gospel accounts, Jesus was always building people up during His sermons...

"You are the light of the world."

"You are the salt of the earth."

"Your faith has healed you."

"Your faith has set you free."

Wow. Apparently Jesus has a pretty high opinion of you. Therefore, shouldn't you have a pretty high opinion of yourself?

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, today, I choose to believe in me, because You believe in me. I choose to believe all that You say about me. Thank You Lord. In Jesus' mighty name, amen."

June 30:

Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."

Those same verses in The Message Bible, "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track."

Read it again SLOWLY: "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track."

DECLARE: "I will trust the Lord with all that I have, I will not rely upon my ability to figure everything out on my own. I will listen for God’s voice in everything I do, everywhere I go; because God will keep me on track, in Jesus' mighty name!"

June 28:

The Bible says rejoice in the Lord always!

The Bible also says that when the Apostle Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they sang songs and prayed at the midnight hour, and THEN the prison doors were shaken and they were set free!

Do you have problems that are not yet resolved? Have you been praying about certain things and you're in the waiting stage?

Well, after you have said your prayers and made your requests, praise God before the answer comes! Rejoice and give thanks before the breakthrough comes! SING your way out of your own "prison"!

When you don't see answers, and you're not sure where to turn or what to do...rejoice and be happy before everything turns out alright.

Being happy and rejoicing BEFORE you see prayer results is a great way of letting go and trusting God to take care of things behind the scenes. Letting go and surrendering is a deep spiritual practice, and it speeds up the manifesting process.

So sing and rejoice now, and the answers and the breakthrough you need will be here before you know it!!

DECLARE: "I have prayed about what I want, according to God's will, and now I release it, and I make the choice to rejoice, knowing that God is working behind the scenes to manifest the absolute good for my life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

June 27:

Place your confidence and trust in the Lord, and not in man's opinions.

Psalm 118:8 (KJV), "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man."

We are encouraged to trust the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways, we should acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.

When you make God your priority, He will cause situations to fall together in your favor. Thank You Lord.

Anger and stress can literally take away years from your life. God's Word is medically true when it says a relaxed attitude lengthens a person’s life.Stress is not worth it. Worrying about stuff won't change reality. A relaxed attitude lengthens your life. Begin now...

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I choose to relax. I choose to let things go. I choose a relaxed attitude, because it's good for my health and I know that you, O Lord, are trustworthy! Thank you Lord, in Jesus' name, amen!"

There are people that you meet that are weighed down by worry. They need you to say something that will cheer them up.

We show ourselves to be real Christians when we are cheerful to people, and not evasive.

If there are no words to comfort or cheer up someone, then just hug them. It improves that person's health AND your health.

We're suppose to be salt of the earth and light of the world. If you believe that, and you're a real Christian, then ask God to lead you to people who need to be cheered up, by you.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I know that worry weighs people down, and a cheerful word picks us up. Today I will choose to be cheerful to people, cashiers, bank tellers, anyone who seems to need it. In Jesus' might name, amen."

June 22:

The word of the day is FAITH.

Jesus said if you have faith even as tiny as a mustard seed, you can "move mountains" in your life.

Jesus is saying that you have enough faith to get things done in your life.

Stand on your faith and believe in the measure of faith that you have now. Your glass is not half full, your glass is not half empty, your glass is completely full of FAITH, even if you can't see it in yourself.

DECLARE: "I walk by faith, not by sight, and if Jesus says I have enough faith, then I'm going to believe that, and I'm going to be excessively happy and have an outrageously blessed day, today, right now, in Jesus' mighty name!!!"

June 14:

As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God because He was my friend. But then instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own. At last I snatched them back and cried... “How can you be so slow?” “My child,” God said, “what could I do, you never did let go!” - Anonymous.

Today, let go of the things that burden you, and don't pick them back.

The Bible says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 6-7)

Prayer: "Lord, I choose to let go. Thank You Lord that you carry my burdens. I leave them with You, and trust You with my future. In Jesus' mighty name, amen"

When you pray, do you tell God all that you feel? Even though God knows everything, we feel a deeper intimacy with God when we verbalize to him all of our feelings.

So I encourage you to take time in prayer, and solitude, to really tell God everything you're feeling. If it feels like you're talking to the wall, don't get discouraged. Prayer sometimes feels awkward and it takes time for us to develop a prayer life and become comfortable with talking to God beyond a two-minute prayer asking for something.

So get alone with no cell phone or TV or people, and really say to God all that you feel about your life about your ups and downs about your joys. It may feel like just taking to the ceiling, but the more you do it the more you will feel a deeper intimacy with God... which really is the goal of prayer.

June 12:

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." - Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

We all need help sometimes, and the awesome promise in this version of Matthew 6:34 is that God will HELP you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes!

God's help may come in the form of a person or a pleasant surprise or an unexpected financial blessing or a new opportunity that comes to you.

So, remember that you're never alone in what you face. You have all of God's resources and assistance on your side. God will indeed help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I choose not to get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. I know that you, my Lord, will help me deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes, and I will overcome in Jesus' mighty name, amen."

June 9:

Just be who you are! God made you and fashioned you in your mother's womb. God made you with certain desires, interest, dreams, personality...and you don't have to apologize for any of that.

So believe in yourself today, and don't feel like you have to censor, or change anything about yourself to fit into society or to be more acceptable to somebody else.

Feel good about yourself and love yourself, because the Commandment says love your neighbor as YOURSELF. So be who God made you to be and be happy with yourself today!

DECLARE: God made me and God doesn't make mistakes. I'm happy with myself even if nobody else is!

June 7:

Enthusiasm comes from the Greek. "En thuse" is from theos, which is the Greek word for God.

So to be "enthused" means to be "in God". You are in God and God is in you. So today have enthusiasm!!!

Be enthusiastic about your life! Have energy! Have passion! Be enthusiastic about the fact that God lives in you! If you don't feel enthusiastic, fake it 'til you make it! It works, and it's important. Why?

Living life without enthusiasm is like sitting in a concert with a frown on your face. Living a life without enthusiasm is like eating non-fat, sugar-free ice cream, it's like eating bland food.. Blah! Living life without enthusiasm is like reading a book that you have no interest in.

Life is meant to be lived to the full!

Today, you may not have all your problems resolved. Today you might still be facing difficult situations that are not easily resolved. But this is the day the Lord has made, make the choice to rejoice and be glad in it.

Even if you don't love your job, if it helps pay the bills, then be enthusiastic at your job! You may not be enthusiastic about every member of your family, but it is your family, so be enthusiastic that you HAVE a family!

If there's something in your life that you don't like, change it! If you can't change it, get over it, and be enthusiastic anyway!

When you look in the mirror, you may not be enthusiastic about what you see. But God not only loves you, he likes you, so you might as well like yourself, flaws and all!

Enthusiasm is the word of the day, so feel it and live it as much as you can!

DECLARE: "I will live my life with enthusiasm! I'm not going to wait until my life is perfect before I have enthusiasm because my life will never be perfect! But I am blessed wherever I go and I have blessings in my life and I have blessed people in my life. So no matter what, I am full of enthusiasm because this is the day that the Lord has made, so I'm going to make the choice to rejoice and be glad in it, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

June 6:

"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; 19 but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. 20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (Psalm 66: 18-20)

Do you know that God hears every prayer you have today?

These verses assure us that if we refuse to cherish sin, then God will always listen to our prayers.

Your Father will never withdraw his attention and His unfailing love from you.

Father God knows all the cares that you hold in your heart. Rest, knowing that He is taking care of your life behind the scenes, and that he is always giving you his best.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I bless your holy name because you listen to me and you give me your best and that you will never reject me or withhold your love for me, because you are THAT awesome, and you think that I AM that awesome, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

June 5:

Some days you just don't feel strong. I get that. We're all in the same boat.

The good news is you don't have to be strong all the time.

You don't have to rely upon your own strength, or anybody else's strength.

The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6:10, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

That was his way of saying be strong in THE LORD'S strength, not your own!

Don't rely on people. God breathed life into you. He is your strength, not anybody else...and not even yourself.

Then say this, with a strong voice: "Thank you God that I am strong in the power of your might, and I am filled with your Holy Spirit power everyday, in Jesus' mighty name, amen," and you will find new strength and energy for the day!

June 2:

Hebrews 10: 35, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."

No matter what you face these days in your life, this verse says do not throw away your CONFIDENCE; it will be richly rewarded.

It WILL BE richly rewarded! Have confidence in God. Have confidence in yourself. Confidence is not arrogance. Confidence is not ego. Confidence is trusting that God's got your back!

PRAYER: "God I will not throw away my confidence. I will keep my faith and smile and live with a calm delight in you, because I know that my confidence will be richly rewarded, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

June 1:

YOU are doing great!

Truly and sincerely.

You have already overcome so much and you are still standing and then some.

When it feels like you've got a long ways to go, take a look at how far you've come.

You've got this! You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength!

So trust that Christ is giving you the strength that you need today!

PRAYER: "Thank you Lord for always being by my side and helping me be my best and giving me the encouragement that I need to make it each day, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 29:

1 Samuel 17: 37, “The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

David told the king that he had faith that God would help him overcome Goliath because David already experienced God helping him deal with the wild animals that tried to devour his father's flock.

Have you seen God help you in your past? Can you look back upon your life and see God moments, times in your life when clearly God helped you overcome difficult circumstances?

Then you can say, like David said, ‘The Lord who rescued me from my past problems and challenges will rescue me from the giant that I face right now!’

PRAYER: "‘Lord, I rely on you as I face the giants of my life. I will declare that the Lord who rescued me from my past problems and challenges will rescue me from the giants that I face from now on, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 25:

Joshua 1:8, "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

Joshua is saying, "Do what God's law says and THEN you will be prosperous and successful."

Your day will be determined by your choice to set your mind on Him or on you. Its not up to God or His control that will determine the goodness of your day. Its up to you! Choose positive choices today! Do what you love and enjoy to do for a living and you won't have to "work" a day in your life. Talk to God throughout your day, and keep His laws...and you WILL be successful!

PRAYER: "Dear God, I will keep your holy law always on my lips; I will meditate on you day and night, so that I will be careful to do everything written in it, then I will indeed be prosperous and successful, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 23:

Psalm 116: 6, 'The Lord protects those of childlike faith.'

I love this quote, "When the train goes through a tunnel and everything gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not. You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through."

Today, this week, if you find yourself going through a dark place, trust the engineer to get you through it. He always has, and I always will!

PRAYER: "Thank you Lord that you protect those with childlike faith. When things get dark, I trust You, Lord, to get me through it, and to rescue me and deliver me always, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 22:

1 Peter 5:7, ‘Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.’

It’s been said that a boat doesn’t sink because of the water all around it, it sinks only when the water gets inside of it.

Your peace of mine, your enthusiasm will not sink just because there is negativity and problems all around you; it’s only when you let the negativity and the world’s drama get inside of you that you begin to mentally sink.

Today, Monday morning, choose to empty your mind of all of the negativity and the cares of the world.

Think about your favorite people and say a quick 'thank you' for them! Turn on your favorite music. Fill your mind with positivity! Pray and rejoice in the Lord!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I am not going to be a Negative Nancy. This is not going to be another dull, horrid Monday. This is a GREAT Monday! I cast ALL of my cares upon you, for you care for me! I am light as a feather and as strong as a lion. There's nothing that God and I cannot handle. My mind is full of peace. My life is full of joy and I declare that with God everything is possible, in Jesus' mighty name!"

May 16:

Acts 3:5-8, "When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, Look at us! So the man gave them his attention, EXPECTING to get something from them. Then Peter said, Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God."

In this passage, Peter and John told a beggar to look at them, the beggar EXPECTED to get something from them, and he did! He got a huge blessing that day!

Expectation is the atmosphere for miracles and blessings; that's why Jesus said in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, whatsoever you pray for, believe that YOU HAVE received it, and it will be yours."

Today, EXPECT good things to happen. EXPECT God to help you when you need help. Say a prayer when you need to, and then EXPECT wonderful things to happen.

PRAYER: "Dear God, I expect blessings, because you are a good, good Father, and I believe that expectation is the atmosphere for miracles and blessings, and I love experiencing more and more of your blessings throughout my day, throughout my life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 15:

2 Corinthians 9:6, "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."

As you sow happy feelings, more happy feelings will be drawn to you.

If you are constantly cranky and upset, then you will be creating more of the same into your experience. It works like a magnet.Do you want to reap bountiful HAPPINESS today? Be a happy person! Say, THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS DAY when you wake up! Smile at the mirror. Smile at people. Notice the little blessings of the day and say THANK YOU.This is how you attract more blessings into your life.

DECLARE: "This is a day that the Lord has made, even though it's Monday, I will rejoice and be glad in it! I am thankful for my blessings of today, and everything is working out for my good, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 13:

MORNING PRAYER: Say it out loud and with belief! "God has given me divine health. As God is prospering me in body, soul and spirit, pain is leaving and a better stronger, healthier future awaits me. The curses and judgments that were against me are now all cancelled, forgiven and removed through Jesus. I am FREE, in Jesus' name!"

May 11:

Jeremiah 30: 17, "For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord!"

Approach God's throne with holy boldness and ask God to heal and restore you, and then believe that your breakthrough is coming!

PRAYER: "Thank you so much God that you restore health to me, and my wounds you will heal. I lift up to you every area of my life that needs restoration (name them outloud), trusting in you to heal me and make me whole, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 9:

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' 32 For it is the Gentiles (those who don't know God) who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first he kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 'So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:31-34.

My friend, this passage has been near and dear to me since about 1989 and even still to this day, because I find myself tempted to excessive anxiety.

I invite you to memorize these verses and carry them in your heart.

Yes there is enough trouble today; but there is also enough of GOD'S grace for today and then more of GOD'S grace for tomorrow's trouble.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, instead of worrying, I will trust you. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know the One who holds tomorrow, and that's you, Lord! I'm living in faith and victory today, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

May 5:

Psalm 34:19, "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all."

Yes, Christians have problems.

Yes, Christians feel stressed sometimes.

Yes, Christians get upset.

Yes, Christians have fake friends who turn on them.

But, the Lord delivers us from ALL of these things, and that's the good news.

Nothing takes God by surprise. God is never shocked by anything that happens in our lives. "Oops" is not in God's dictionary.

Jesus even said, in this world you will have trouble, but then He said, "but take heart, for I have overcome the world!"

How do you overcome the world? By reminding yourself that "the righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them ALL!"

So sit tight. Relax. Take a breath, because GOD WILL DELIVER YOU from whatever you're facing now.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I trust that even though I may have many troubles, you will deliver me from them all! Thank you Lord, in Jesus' name, amen."

May 4:

Jesus said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18: 27)

What is it that you want?

What is it that you really want?

Jesus is telling you now that whatever it is that you want is POSSIBLE!

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I choose to let go of a cynical, doubtful, negative attitude, and I choose to have absolute faith that my goals are indeed possible with you, God! I will make practical steps to go after my goals, knowing that they are possible, in Jesus' name, amen."

May 3:

"Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with PEACE." - Ephesians 4:3

There's nothing more important than to be at peace with yourself, to be at peace with your life, your soul.

It's better to pick your battles and choose peace over conflict.

It's better to pay the money for the doctor appointment or the surgery in order to have peace of mind regarding your health.

It's better to hold your opinion and avoid a conflict than to engage in an unnecessary argument.

It's also wise to do all that you can, and then to cultivate peace of mind by trusting God to take it from there and do the rest.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, thank you for the gift of peace. I walk away from unnecessary fights, drama queens, and worrying about things that are beyond my control, and I renew my trust in you, God, to make everything work out right in my life, in Jesus' name, amen."

May 2:

In the Bible book of Genesis, Abraham and Sarah laughed sarcastically when God told them that they would become parents in their old age. Later, when Sarah gave birth to her son, she named him Isaac, which means "he laughs."

Laughter carries distinct health benefits. When you laugh, you take in extra oxygen, stimulate your organs, relax your muscles and reduce stress. Laughter may improve your immune system, relieve pain and make it easier to emotionally cope with life challenges. So laughter is indeed good medicine. At the very least, a good laugh lifts the mood.

Don't be too serious today. Remember that none of us are getting out of here alive. Make sure you laugh today. Tell someone a joke. Watch a comedy. Learn to laugh at yourself. Talk about your mistakes and weaknesses with a smile on your face.

Don't take yourself too seriously, and don't let a day go by without laughter, it's one of God's greatest gifts!

May 1:

In Genesis 18: 14, Abraham and Sarah had waited a long time to conceive and have children. God said to Abraham and Sarah, "Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

As I shared in my message yesterday at church, God’s timing is never too late and never too early. He’s always right on time! Things happen according to the time "appointed" by God, not by you or I.

My wife and I met in 1993. We dated for a year and a half, thought we would get married then, but we didn’t. We actually broke up for about three and a half years, got back together again in 1998, and married in 2000.

I waited nine years until I became full time pastor of Antioch. But it was all in the right time, God's timing.

The thing to remember and carry in your heart is that everything happens in Divine timing. Your soul mate is working on that Divine time schedule, your children or grandchildren, your money, your dream home, etc.

DECLARE: Today I choose to feel faith, to feel loved, to feel healthy, nurtured, and feel blessed right now, TRUSTING that everything is unfolding as it should in God's divine timetable, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!

April 28:

Some thoughts on worrying...

"Worrying is a great way to use your imagination to create things in your life that you DON'T want to happen.

Worry is a prayer for what you don't want, to happen, to come true for you.

The good news is the inverse of this is true...think about and imagine your dream and the life you would love to live, think about what you want to happen, with feeling and gratitude, and as you let these positive thoughts dominant your thinking, they will come to pass." - Stephen J. Kosmyna

Or, to put it in other words, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Jesus in Matthew 21:22)

When you're tempted to get stressed out and worried, take a breath, say a short prayer about your concern, and say, "I have peace. God's got this. Everything is working out just fine," then take another deep breath, and cultivate a sense of inner peace...that's you replacing worry with peace.

April 26:

God says in Isaiah 41:10, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will STRENGTHEN you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand!"

Today, believe that you are strong in the Lord. When you need strength, He will give you inspiration!

Whatever challenge you are facing today, know that the God of Angel Armies is always by your side, and no weapon formed against you shall prosper.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, I know that you are with me and so I will not be dismayed for I know that you are my God and you will strengthen me, and you will help me, that you will hold me with your righteous right hand. You are my comfort, my hope, my peace. Knowing You helps me to have no fear, no timidity, only a reverent heart ready to hear from you, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

April 25:

Once words are spoken, it's very hard to take them back.

So it's important that we stop and think and speak with wisdom, before we say something that we might regret later.

We also need to ask ourselves, 'What would Jesus have me do" before making crucial decisions.

James 1:5 says, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you..."

Do you need wisdom for an important decision coming up? Ask God for wisdom in making that decision, and then trust that His Spirit is guiding your thinking.

PRAYER: "Dear God, I need your divine wisdom to make good, healthy decisions. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Thank you for your wisdom, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

April 24:

"When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen." Isaiah 60:22.

You might be waiting for things to happen in your life or you might find yourself wanting something that feels beyond your reach now. Remember to trust God's timing. Isaiah 60:22 tells us, "When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen."

PRAYER: "Dear God, sometimes I get impatient and want things to happen in my life now. But I'm going to trust your timing and believe that you will make things happen when the time is right. Until then, I'm going to be happy and smile and relax, knowing that you have your hands on the steering wheel of my life, in Jesus' name, amen!"

April 20:

2 Peter 1: 3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

Did you catch that? "His divine power has given us everything we need!"

You have God's divine power living in you!

You might sometimes get stuck, but you do not have to stay stuck. You don't have to stay where you are at in life.

Approach today with enthusiasm, knowing and believing that you are full of divine power!

PRAYER: "Dear God, I am not a negative Nancy, or a boring "stuck-in-the-mud" with no energy. I will run into this day with maximum enthusiasm, because your divine power has given me everything I need for a godly, happy, joy-filled life, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

April 19:

Matthew 19:26, "Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."

We as Christians should be the most optimistic, faith-filled, positive people on earth, because our Lord and Savior said so many times "all things are possible," "your faith has saved you," "according to your faith let it be done unto you."

So what are we waiting for? Begin today to cultivate a positive mental attitude! Begin today to cultivate a faith attitude!

Dare to take Jesus at his word and believe that "with God everything is possible!"

DECLARE: "I'm not a big, dull, dud. I'm not a negative person. I'm full of faith! I am optimistic! I am convinced that Jesus told the truth! I believe that with God everything is possible, in Jesus' mighty name!"

April 18:

The Word of the day is....REJOICE!

Having a rough or slow morning? Turn the music up louder!

Dance in the kitchen! Throw off the heavy weights. Press into this day with excitement and expectation!

DECLARE: "This is a great day! I am blessed today! No matter what, I'm going to be happier than a mental patient on a merry go round, because I have the very POWER of God living in me, in Jesus' mighty name!"

April 17:

On this day after Easter, I want you to know that the POWER of God lives in you today!

The Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:11, "if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."

Did you catch that? The Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead is living in you! The very same POWER that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is living in YOU!

Today, have strong confidence!! Have bold faith!!! Smile and feel joy!! Why? Because the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you!!

DECLARE: "I am full of faith today!! I am full of hope today! Nothing can stop me! I have the very POWER of God living in me!! The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead is living in me, in Jesus' mighty name!"

Easter Sunday April 16:

Every year at this time in the weeks leading up to Easter, there are TV documentaries about Jesus, usually on the History Channel. Many of these shows are pretty good, but sometimes these documentaries try to explain away the virgin birth or the resurrection. So today, let’s examine the evidence for Easter...

So what do we have. We have the empty tomb. Think about it. Within a few weeks, the disciples were publicly preaching that Jesus had risen from the dead. If they had been lying or hallucinating, all the authorities would have to do is simply go to the tomb and drag out the dead body of Jesus. As a man named Peter Lewis points out, the Jewish and Roman authorities could have nailed the dead body ton the city wall saying, “There’s Jesus…He’s not risen,” and that would be the end of the Christian movement. But they did not do that, and you can guess why.

Some skeptics have suggested that the body of Jesus was never buried in a tomb, that it was simply thrown into a pit and devoured by wild animals. However, if that was the case, then when the Christians went out telling everyone that Jesus was risen, the people would have reacted by saying, “Nonsense, they threw His body into a ditch!” But that’s not how people reacted to the message of the resurrection…AND it was not typical for the bodies of crucified criminals to be discarded like that…therefore we can believe the Bible when it says that Jesus was in fact buried in a tomb.

Also, some skeptics have suggested that because it was early in the morning the disciples mistakenly went to the wrong tomb, found it empty. However, the disciples had just buried Jesus two days before, so they knew the exact location of the tomb of Jesus.

We have the explosive growth of the Christian movement. Within a few weeks after the crucifixion, the number of Christians grew and grew and grew, and is STILL growing, despite threats of persecution and imprisonment and death in places like China.

Some skeptics have suggested that the disciples simply stole Christ’s body. But how could the disciples have overpowered Roman soldiers with swords? The answer is, they couldn’t…therefore even if they wanted to, the disciples could not steal the body.

We have several radically changed disciples. When Christ was arrested, the disciples were frightened, confused, and discouraged. Peter denied knowing the Man three times. A few weeks later, these same disciples courageously stood in the temple courts preaching that Jesus had come back from the dead, and that by repentance and faith anyone can be saved from their sins. What changed these cowards into bold evangelists who traveled all around with the Easter message? There is only one credible explanation, and you can guess what it is.

The evidence for Easter proves…

There is a God.

There is an afterlife.

That belief in Jesus gives us eternal life.

The words of Jesus are true, ‘do not worry about your life,’ and ‘fear not I am with you’ and ‘seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things will be added unto you’ and ‘with God all things are possible.’

Good Friday April 14:

Every week we say, TGIF, Thank God it's Friday!

But this Friday is better than most, because today we celebrate the moment that God took away the sin of the world when Jesus Christ gave His life for us.

Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

If Jesus died for us while we were sinners, God's enemies, how much more will God be there for us and take care of us now that we are His children!!

I pray all discouragement, weariness and worry comes off of you RIGHT NOW in Jesus Name! YOU are amazing and things are going to work out for you!

PRAYER: "Dear Father, thank you for the gift of eternal life through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. I lay my sins and burdens down and I choose to walk in faith and victory today, in Jesus' victorious name, amen!

April 13:

You are what God's Word says you are. You think of yourself as ordinary before, but God has a higher opinion of you!

You are called to a higher life and a more noble purpose! You are a child of Almighty God.

You represent the King of Kings, and the Kingdom of Light, so let your life be a beacon of light, shining in a world of darkness.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I will shine my light with my words and my actions. I will smile and I will convey kindness and I will radiate positive energy to the people that I meet today, in Jesus' name, amen.

There are people that you meet that are weighed down by worry. They need you to say something that will cheer them up.

We show ourselves to be real Christians when we are cheerful to people, and not evasive.

If there are no words to comfort or cheer up someone, then just hug them. It improves that person's health AND your health.

We're suppose to be salt of the earth and light of the world. If you believe that, and you're a real Christian, then ask God to lead you to people who need to be cheered up, by you.

PRAYER: "Dear Father, I know that worry weighs people down, and a cheerful word picks us up. Today I will choose to be cheerful to people, cashiers, bank tellers, anyone who seems to need it. In Jesus' name, amen.

April 10:

Micah 7:8 says, "Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light."

Today you might be happy and positive, or you might be down in the pit, not feeling much happiness.

If you're sitting in the "darkness" of depression or anxiety, the Lord is your light. He will sit with you in your darkness until you feel courage and light and faith rise up in your heart again.

PRAYER: "Dear Lord, thank you that though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, you are my light, and you make me alive again, and you give me hope and faith to carry on. Therefore, awesome things are happening in my life, in Jesus' mighty name!"

April 7:

Yesterday the news came out that Legendary Comedian Don Rickles passed away, at age 90.

Now, one could say, "How sad! He was so healthy and happy, and now we've lost a great man and comedian!"

Or we could say, "Well, 90 years old means he lived a good, long life, and now he's in a better place."

How you look at it, is a matter of perspective!

Today, choose a positive perspective on life, on your life, on the things that happen. A positive perspective is good for your health!

DECLARE: "My life is so positive and every day has its own victories. I choose to look at the positives of my life and I choose a positive perspective on the things that happen in the world, in Jesus' mighty name!"

April 6:

For the times in which you feel discouraged or excluded...Jesus said in John 15:19-20, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."

Remember, Jesus wasn't accepted in this world either! You're never alone. You're in good company! Pray for those who hate you.

Don't concern yourself with those who ignore you, have no time to listen to you! You are loved. You are SO loved. You have no idea how much you are LOVED.

You're not perfect in your eyes, but you ARE perfect in your Father's eyes.

The people who are meant to be in your life love you so much. They were drawn into your life from God to show you how much God LOVES you.

The people in your life are blessed to be able to love you, to talk to you, to listen to you. Even if people don't say it, they feel good by having YOU in their lives.

God's love for you is so steady and unchanging that there is nothing that you can do to make yourself loved MORE, and there's nothing you can do to make yourself loved LESS.

Believe it today. Let it sink in. :)

PRAYER: "Thank you God, that I am so LOVED, every single day, no matter what I do or what I say. Your LOVE makes me strong, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!"

April 5:

The Father's Love Letter...

My Child…

You may not know me, but I know everything about you…Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up…Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways…Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered...Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image…Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being…Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring…Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived…Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation…Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book...Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live …Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made …Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb …Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born …Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me …John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love…1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you …1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father …1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could …Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father …Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand…James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs …Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope …Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love …Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ...Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing …Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you …Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession …Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul …Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things …Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me …Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart …Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires …Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine …Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager …2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles …2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you …Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart …Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes …Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth …Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus …John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed …John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being …Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you…Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins …2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled …2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you…1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love …Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me …1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again …Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen …Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father …Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child? …John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you …Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad.
Almighty God

April 4:

Revelation 12:11 tells us that we overcome evil and tests and trials "by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony!"

Meaning, the blood of Jesus gives us the power and wisdom of God, and then we activate God's power in our lives by choosing to speak the Word over our circumstances.